“WE SHOULD not forget” is the message from war veterans following last weekend’s Remembrance Sunday commemorations.

Laurence Young (80), a member of the City of Dundee Combined Ex-Service Association, believes the event remains an important and relevant date on the calendar for war veterans, their families and future generations.

Mr Young, who served in the Middle East during the second world war with the King’s Own Scottish Borders, spoke in response to Jim Crumley’s personal view column featured in Tuesday’s Courier.

In the column, Mr Crumley suggested the history of Britain’s wars should perhaps be left in the past and Remembrance Sunday is no longer relevant in such a changed world.

However, Mr Young, who was called up in 1945 and became a sergeant at just 20 years old, told The Courier the services are a special and poignant way to acknowledge the sacrifice made by British soldiers.

Mr Young, who is 80, said, “My father fought in the first world war and he survived it, so when I attend Remembrance Sunday I not only remember my father but I remember all the men who fought with him and did not come home.

“I would quote the Kohima Epitaph in response to whether or not we should forget.

“‘When You Go Home Tell Them of Us and Say, For Your Tomorrow We Gave Our Today.”

“It might be a cliche but these men gave their lives for our freedom.

“Everyone is entitled to their opinion but the reason that people have the freedom to give their personal view is because of the freedom these men fought and died for.

“It is insensitive to suggest we should forget. We should always remember what these people did for us and what they are still doing today.”

Mr Young added that Remembrance Sunday is a good way to reach younger generations, who can learn from the past realities of war.

He continued, “I understand that views are relative to your experience in life.

“People who are a bit older can remember what it was like to go through war, or at least have family who have been affected in war, but now there are a whole bunch of people who have no experience of what war was back then.

“Awareness of the past is very important and education and learning in schools for young people should happen.

“It heartens me to see so many young people nowadays being taught about the past and acknowledging what happened back then.

“It’s shameful to suggest that Remembrance Sunday should be forgotten.

“It’s a betrayal to forget what these people sacrificed for the freedom of our country and we need to acknowledge the sacrifice.

“It’s even more relevant today to remember the sacrifices of war—a few weeks ago the Queen opened a memorial to honour the men and women who have died in battle since the end of World War II, and what is chilling is the memorial has space for more names to be added.

“We should not forget what men and women sacrifice to fight for their country and our country’s freedom.”