Chris Vince

I thank the hon. Member for South West Devon (Rebecca Smith) for securing this debate and for her powerful opening speech. I join her in thanking all those Members of this House, along with House staff, who gave their lives for our freedom in the battle of the Somme and in the entirety of the first and second world wars. One of the great things about speaking last is having the opportunity to reflect on what has already been said in the debate. It is telling that we are talking about events that happened 110 years ago, yet the emotion from those who have spoken has been raw, real and clear to see. That highlights the enormity of the battle and of the sacrifice made by those men who lost their lives. My interest in this topic was first awakened when I visited the war graves in France—like many—with my parents when I was younger. Like the hon. Member for South West Devon, I was struck by the graves that did not have names—the unknown soldier—and by the graves, quite concerningly, that had more than one soldier in them. That was incredibly powerful. I apologise, Madam Deputy Speaker; I have got my information from trusted sources, but my numbers might be slightly wrong. In stark contrast to the constituency of my hon. Friend the Member for Erewash (Adam Thompson), Harlow in 1916 was, it is fair to say, a very different place from today. In fact, my constituency was a collection of villages under the banner of Epping. Members will all know who the Member of Parliament for Epping was during the second world war. According to the information I have from a trusted source, 13 men from Harlow were killed in the battle of the Somme, with two killed on the first day—two of the 19,240 British soldiers killed on that first day. However, looking at all the villages that have since combined to become Harlow, I suspect that the numbers were greater. Among those who died, some of whom were from Potter Street, were Private Walter Wheeler of the Essex Regiment, Private Thomas W. J. Baldock of the East Surrey Regiment and Private Henry Ayton. I want to focus specifically on one soldier who died in the battle of the Somme. Eight years ago, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of the first world war, Your Harlow, our local online newspaper, brought together local councillors and community champions to read out the stories of the individuals who had lost their life in the first world war. I am running short of time, but I just want to mention Thomas Lewis, who was born in Great Parndon in 1895. He was one of 10 children, one of whom died at birth. Private Lewis enlisted at Warley and joined the 1st Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment. His regiment was involved in the battle of the Somme, specifically the attack on High Wood on 20 August 1916 and the capture of Falfemont farm between 3 and 6 September 1916. Thomas died of his wounds on 13 September at the age of 21. I want to quickly thank the Harlow branch of the Royal British Legion for the commemorative service that it held over the weekend. It was particularly poignant to hear the names of Thomas, Cyril and Francis Riley—three brothers who died in the first world war. We will remember them. I apologise for going over time, Madam Deputy Speaker.