THE feature by Alex Cunningham on the work of the British Legion awakened me to the fact that this MP has deep convictions and passion.

I had regarded him as a conscientious Labour supporter, to adhere more than I could to the party line, but not one who was so committed to helping the participants in war who still live but with lasting disabilities.

I remember the wars not only on one day a year but constantly, but that inspires me to support efforts to solve differences between nations by negotiation and not concentration on the military.

The first encounter I had with the aftermath of the First World War was having a teacher who suffered from what was then called shell shock.

When I was in the Army I met a man from Denmark who was suffering from some mental condition emanating from his experiences.

More recently, I met a discharged member of the Red Army who had fought in Afghanistan with post traumatic stress disorder.

I think that we are as human beings too prone to look to military solutions, and I think it right to change this, but equally we should remember and help the casualties.

I was lucky to have served in the infantry and not been called upon to use what I was taught in battle.

Countless men with a similar disposition to mine were pitched into battle and some still live with their scars G Bulmer, Billingham.