Praise for work to honour heroes

Stirling’s MSP has highlighted work done to honour the city’s deceased war heroes.

Bruce Crawford spoke during a debate at the Scottish Parliament last week of the important work carried out by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

He said:“The work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission is hugely important, not just in honouring the dead but in highlighting the devastating cost of war. Generations throughout the previous century had their lives torn apart by two world wars. I hope that none of our generations today, or in the future, will ever again know that horror.”

Globally, the Commission is responsible for preserving the memory of 1.7 million people in 23,000 locations, across 154 countries.

There are 1,275 Commonwealth War Grave sites in Scotland, with around 20,000 graves.

Across the Stirling area, there are over 240 war graves, with the biggest site being Ballengeich Cemetery, which is home to 58.

Commenting, Mr Crawford added: “The War Graves Commission was originally founded in 1917, and its role in commemorating and preserving the memory of the fallen in the two world wars is staggering.

“This includes the more-than 240 graves in the Stirling area alone – and that’s without counting the fallen soldiers and personnel from the Stirling area who have been buried overseas.

“Stirling and Scotland suffered an appalling loss of life during the two world wars of the last century. Many people are rightly grateful to the Commission for the work that they do in carrying the memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice so that we today can enjoy the freedoms that we all too often take for granted.”