Debbie Bannigan says thank you to our Armed Forces and Royal British Legion

8th November, 2018

The Royal British Legion has launched a movement to say ‘Thank You’ to all who served, sacrificed, and changed our world during the First World War.

It’s been a pleasure to spend time with the Royal British Legion, to hear about their work leading up to the centenary of the end of the First World War.

Remembrance has always been an important and deeply personal matter for me. My father served in the forces and my family has experienced loss, as have so many. I’ve also worked with people who live every day with physical and mental health issues as a legacy of their service.

This year is the centenary of the end of the First World War and the charity is calling on mass involvement from the public to recognise the legacy left to us by the entire First World War generation. I hope everyone will get involved.

‘Thank You’ honours not only the 1.1 million British and Commonwealth Armed Forces who lost their lives in the First World War, but also those who played their part on the home front, and those who returned to build a better life for the benefit of generations to come.

Charles Byrne, Director General of The Royal British Legion, said: “We all have a connection to the First World War, for me it is Private Ross Ryan, my grandfather, and we all have a reason to say ‘Thank You’ to this special generation.

“Whether your personal ‘Thank You’ is an event dedicated to those who made a difference in your community, a visit to a place of significance, or a simple tweet, there’s no limit to the ways people can take part. We are making a plea to every single person across the UK to get involved and take a moment in this very significant year to say ‘Thank You’.”

The Royal British Legion played an important part in my childhood. I am honoured to support their campaign and to be placing a wreath at Rugby’s Remembrance Sunday Service this weekend, alongside my very good friend and Rugby resident, Capt. Dutch Van Spall, one of a relatively small group of people who have held the Queen’s Warrant and The Queen’s Commission in the Intelligence Corps.

To the farmers who gave up their horses to the war effort; to the women who kept our home fires burning; to the Brookes the Sassoons and the McCraes whose work has shaped our understanding of conflict; and to those in reserved occupations who, like my grandfather, a colliery worker, toiled tirelessly to support the forces on the front line, we should indeed say ‘Thank You’.

I am saying Thank You to the men and women of Rugby who gave their lives, sacrificed their health and lost family members in the First World War and in conflicts that came before and since. And I and also saying ‘Thank You’ to the Royal British Legion for the work they do to support our forces and veterans.

Want to get involved in the ‘Thank You’ movement? Visit rbl.org.uk/thankyou and share your story, or share on social media with #ThankYou100.

Thank You to the men and women of Rugby who gave their lives, sacrificed their health and lost family members in the First World War and in conflicts that came before and since. And I and also saying 'Thank You' to the Royal British Legion for the work they do to support our forces and veterans.