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.
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