Wales Office Ministers take part in Remembrance Day services in Cardiff and London
Wales Office Ministers Stephen Crabb, Alun Cairns and Baroness Randerson take part in Remembrance Day services in Cardiff and London
The Secretary of State for Wales Stephen Crabb and Wales Office Minister Baroness Randerson will be taking part in services in Cardiff and London as part of Remembrance Day commemorations.
While earlier in the week on Wednesday 5 November, Wales Office Minister Alun Cairns attended a service at the Welsh National Field of Remembrance at Cardiff Castle, planting a wooden cross bearing a personal tribute.
On Remembrance Sunday 9 November, Stephen Crabb will lay a wreath at the Wales National War Memorial in Alexandra Gardens, Cathays Park, Cardiff.
In his Remembrance Day message, Stephen Crabb said:
This Remembrance Sunday we mark one hundred years since the beginning of the First World War. Forty thousand Welsh lives were lost from 1914-1918 and we must never forget the huge sacrifice that these men and women made to protect our freedom.
The tributes that are taking place across Wales today demonstrate our enormous gratitude for the sacrifices that they and those in subsequent conflicts made.
As well as remembering all those who served in the two world wars, this year I will also be thinking of the Welsh servicemen and women who recently returned from the 13 year campaign to combat terrorism in Afghanistan.
I give thanks for their safe return home whilst honouring the memory of those who sadly lost their lives. Today is also a time to reflect on current conflicts and those who continue to defend our values around the world.
Baroness Randerson said:
British men and women everyday put their lives at risk to make our country and world a safer place.
In this centenary year of the beginning of the First World War, it is important that we pause to remember the sacrifices our Armed Forces have made over the decades, and continue to make, in present day conflicts and upheavals across the world.
Reflecting on the service at the Welsh National Field of Remembrance, Mr Cairns said:
It was a humbling and moving experience to take part in this service which opened the Welsh National Field of Remembrance to the public.
The Welsh National Field of Remembrance provides a quiet place for the public to contemplate and reflect on the many sacrifices made by our servicemen and women from Wales, Britain and the Commonwealth.
Over 270,000 soldiers from Wales – 10% of the population of Wales – fought in the First World War.
At 11am on Sunday 9 November, Her Majesty The Queen will lead the nation at the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph on Whitehall, to commemorate the contribution of British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and women in the two World Wars and later conflicts.