WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THEM

     Today millions of people around the world will pause in silence to remember those who lost their lives in two world wars and more recent conflicts. Armistice Day, will be particularly poignant this year following the death of young lance corporal, Steven Sherwood.

Steven, 24, a Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Light Infantry soldier, was killed in an ambush when he was on patrol in the northern Afghanistan city of Mazar-e-Sharif last month. His colleagues will take time out from their duties in Afghanistan on Sunday to hold a service of remembrance, and wreaths will be laid at the ceremony in Kabul - including one sent by The Citizen - to remember Steven and all other servicemen whose lives have been lost.

     Here in Gloucestershire and beyond, people will today observe the two minutes' silence at 11am at war memorials, shopping centres, offices and businesses. Shoppers making their way through Gloucester's King's Walk mall yesterday paused for a moment to buy a poppy in a simple act of remembrance. Members of the Gloucester branch of the Royal British Legion were out selling the poppies as part of their annual appeal. The Citizen editor, Ian Mean, joined the Kings Walk sellers to show support for their efforts.

And former Grenadier Guard, Norman Mitchell of Tuffley, chatted to shoppers who bought poppies.
Mr Mitchell served with the Grenadiers from 1940 to 1958 in North Africa, Italy and the area then known as Palestine - now Israel - and Germany. In September, Mr Mitchell, 85, returned to southern Italy to visit the summit of the 3,000ft Monte Camino, where he faced the German forces in November 1943.

"We spent four days and nights up the mountain," he said. "I got frostbite. We were outnumbered by the enemy. Of the 485 Grenadiers who went up that mountain, only 265 came down.
"When I climbed up the mountain for the first time in more than 60 years, I wept. "It's absolutely vital that we remember. They must never be forgotten because so many men were killed, often with so little result.

     "Remembrance Sunday brings people together for a moment to remember the dreadful carnage and sacrifice that took place." Tracey Belcher, of Abbeymead, was one of those who bought a poppy from Mr Mitchell. "I bought it to remember everybody that helped us during the war. It's my way of saying thank you," she said.

Pam Constance and her three-year-old son, Russ Klus, also paused to support the appeal. "We stopped to look at Mr Mitchell's medals," she said. "My daughter Abbie was at the Festival of Remembrance at GL1 on Sunday to carry a banner for the Rainbows, so the Poppy Appeal has been quite an event for this year."