Monica Harding

I thank the hon. Member for South West Devon (Rebecca Smith) for introducing this debate, for her work on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and for her powerful speech. Of course, we have heard powerful speeches and testimonies from all Members today. The significance of today’s debate on the 110th anniversary of the battle of the Somme is something on which Members from across this House can agree. It is an opportunity to remember, to honour and to commemorate those who fought, suffered and gave their lives in the service of this country and in defence of the freedoms that we enjoy today. The battle of the Somme was not simply a battle fought in a distant field in northern France; it was a moment that reached into every town, every village and every family across our country, changing lives forever. Communities across my constituency felt that loss as keenly as anywhere else. It was one of the largest and deadliest battles of the first world war. More than 1 million soldiers were killed or wounded during the campaign, and the first day remains the bloodiest day in British military history. Despite taking place more than a century ago, the Somme retains a powerful place in our national memory, symbolising not only the terrible human cost of war and the loss of so many young lives, but the extraordinary courage of ordinary men. Across the country stand memorials to those who served and those who never came home. In my constituency, memorials stand in Walton-on-Thames, Thames Ditton, Long Ditton, Esher, Claygate, Hersham, East Molesey, West Molesey and Oatlands. The names engraved on those memorials are more than inscriptions on stone—they were sons, brothers, husbands, workmates and neighbours. Each name represents a life cut short, a family left to grieve, and a community forever changed. This history is woven deeply into the history of my constituency. At Hare Hill in Walton-on-Thames stood the Australian auxiliary hospital, where thousands of wounded Australian and New Zealand soldiers were treated during the war. Walton-on-Thames became a place of recovery, rehabilitation and refuge, forging lasting links between our community and the Anzac story that endure to this day. Hurst Park played an important role in the war effort, as troops assembled and trained before deployment overseas. The roads, parks and open spaces of my constituency became part of a national effort that touched every aspect of local life. The East Surrey Regiment played its own role in the Somme campaign. On the opening day of the battle, Captain Wilfred Percy Nevill encouraged his men to kick footballs across no man’s land as they advanced towards the German lines as a way to boost morale and remind the soldiers of home. It is an important reminder that these men were ordinary people from communities like ours, whose courage, comradeship and resilience carried them through. We should never lose sight of the individual lives behind the figures. That is why commemoration matters. On Remembrance Sunday, I had the pleasure of visiting the Molesey Royal British Legion, and I shared a glass of port with the veterans from the Royal Artillery. Paul Morriss, the secretary and treasurer to the committee, and I spoke for a while about the remarkable work of Richard Dunning, who is the founder of the Lochnagar Crater Foundation. He is a Surrey man who in the 1970s purchased the Lochnagar crater—one of the most significant surviving sites of the Somme battlefield. He visited Lochnagar in the early 1970s, spoke of a feeling of profound connection to the site and determined that it should be protected. He acquired the crater and dedicated himself to preserving it as a permanent memorial. Today it ensures that future generations understand not only what happened on those battlefields, but why it matters. I am pleased that my son, who is in year 9, visited the Lochnagar crater this year, as so many schoolchildren across the country do. I pay tribute to my local schools, teachers and all educators who pass those stories on, and to those who tend and protect these historic sites so that we may remember. The stories shared with me remind us that remembrance is not a passive act but that it requires active stewardship, education and commitment. Anniversaries such as this are also a chance to consider our responsibilities today. If we are sincere in honouring those who served, that sincerity must extend to how we treat those who serve our country today. Veterans are too often being let down. It is a scandal that those who put their lives on the line in defence of our liberty and democracy still find themselves falling through gaps in support. We have long argued that those who serve our country deserve a fair deal. That means improving military housing, strengthening support and compensation for service personnel, and ensuring that veterans are never taken for granted. We must do more to support veterans’ mental health. Too many former servicemen and women continue to live with the consequences of their experience, often in silence. Access to mental health services should be timely, effective and available when needed. Just as importantly, we must continue to challenge the stigma that prevents people from seeking help in the first place. Supporting our veterans is not charity; it is a responsibility. Before I conclude, I would like to add two remarks about the lessons that we must take from any discussion about what happened 110 years ago. First, as we reflect on the tragedy of young lives lost, families torn apart and communities hollowed out, it is a reminder of the importance of the work we do to stop conflict and violence around the world today, so that families now do not face the same heartbreak. In an increasingly insecure world, let us remember that cost and commit ourselves to the pursuit of peace and the prevention of conflict, while being clear-eyed about the threats and dangers present. The Somme marked a technological breakthrough. It was the first time the British deployed tanks in battle, and it saw the emergence of large-scale aerial operations. These would become familiar features in warfare over the next century. Today we stand at another cusp of technological revolution in warfare. We must all reflect on what is needed now to address not only the challenges we presently face but the new challenges that these technologies will bring. As we mark the 110th anniversary of the battle of the Somme, let us remember not only the scale of the battle but the people behind it. Let us remember, too, the contribution of the wider Commonwealth. Their contribution was immense, yet too often their stories have been under-represented in our commemorations and historical memory. If we are to tell the story of the Somme honestly and completely, we must ensure that their sacrifice is recognised fully and woven into our national memory. Let us remember the wounded Anzac troops who found recovery and refuge in Walton-on-Thames. Let us remember the men who marched from places such as Hurst Park. Let us remember those who kicked footballs across the battlefield. One hundred and ten years later, the voices of that generation are gone, but the duty to remember them is ours. As long as their names remain carved in stone, as long as their stories remain in our communities and as long as this nation values the freedoms for which they sacrificed so much, they will not be forgotten. We honour them today, we thank them and we will remember them always.