Political opinion with Josh Babarinde MP: Eastbourne will never forget

This week, I was honoured to mark Remembrance at five memorial events across Eastbourne and Westminster, paying tribute to all those service personnel who have given so much to our country.

On Sunday, I joined hundreds of residents at Eastbourne’s War Memorial to lay a wreath.

In the afternoon, I joined local residents at the Ruthless Memorial at Butts Brow to pay tribute to the ten American airmen who lost their lives when their USAAF Liberator bomber, Ruthless, crashed into the Downs above Willingdon in 1944 during the Second World War.

On Monday, I joined volunteers from the Royal British Legion at The Beacon to help collect for the annual Poppy Appeal. Helping raise vital funds for veterans, serving personnel and their families. 

On Wednesday, I joined residents at Hampden Park War Memorial to mark Armistice Day before attending a further service at War Memorial Houses on Victoria Drive.

This was also the first Remembrance since we lost Staff Sergeant Pauline Cole, whose name lives on through my campaign (Pauline’s Law) to secure fairer treatment for injured veterans, who are currently being financially penalised as a result of receiving military compensation.

I also want to pay tribute to other remarkable Eastbournains like Betty Gallacher, who volunteered to serve in our Armed Forces, only to be discharged because of her sexuality, and Second World War veteran Joseph Cheshire who sadly passed away earlier this year at the age of 102. 

They are just some of the many veterans we have sadly lost over the past year. We need to ensure their service, courage and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Eastbourne, and our country, will never forget.