THIS Sunday, members of the Liphook Royal British Legion, civic dignitaries, village schoolchildren, Scouts and Guides will be commemorating those who have fallen in two world wars and other international conflicts in the 20th and 21st centuries.

The annual Remembrance Day service will be held at St Mary’s Church, Bramshott, and will start at 10.30am, followed by the laying of wreaths at the war memorial outside.

Liphook RBL has also launched an appeal for new members to join.

Colonel John Boyd spoke about his commitment to the Royl British Legion, which he joined 10 years ago, after returning from Iraq.

He pointed out that the legion does an enormous amount of good work providing a welfare service for former service personnel.

He also praised the impressive work done by Lieutenant Colonel James Jack in the parish during the annual Poppy Appeal, as well as involving Liphook Junior School in the Canada Day commemorations.

Helping to launch the appeal was principal county recruitment officer Pat Prior, who described the £44m proceeds from last year’s Poppy Appeal as “a drop in the ocean”.

In order to provide lifelong support for the armed forces community and their dependents, more money was desperately needed.

“We need to attract younger people, who are IT literate, since we now live in an electronic age,” he said. “The benefits are very rewarding. Apart from a great social life, those who join the RBL will interact with the public, visit drop in centres, attend breakfast clubs and give something back.

“For instance there is a writers’ support club, helping to get articles and books published, as well as an actors’ support club. It is not all about sports and activities.

“We have people coming to drop in centres to make jewellery, listen to speakers, put together a local magazine, get advice or just socialise.

“All of these can give back confidence and help to break solitude and isolation as well as help with the emotional and mental welfare of our young and old war veterans.

“All our members share the common cause of supporting our service community, now and for the rest of heir lives. You don’t need to have an Armed Forces background to become a member of the RBL.”

Lt Col James Jack, chairman of the Liphook branch of the RBL, spoke about his experiences in the Second World War and about post-traumatic stress disorder, which has affected military personnel for centuries.

The RBL’s clinical team offers psychological support through agencies dealing with combat stress and welfare advice to veterans and their families as well as direct support, benefits money, war pensions and the Armes Forces Compensation Scheme.

The Legion also funds personnel recovery centres, family breaks, adventure breaks for service children and runs seaside break centres, care homes, handy van repair services and an Admiral Nurse Service for carers of people with dementia.

To find out more about the RBL, visit britishlegion.org.uk/membership.