Rebecca Smith MP brings her dedication to remembrance to her new role, continuing her commitment to honouring those who gave their lives in service. This week she placed a poppy cross on behalf of her community in the House of Parliament’s Constituency Garden of Remembrance, paying tribute to the men and women of South West Devon who gave their lives for the freedoms we cherish today.
This remembrance serves as a reflection of her years of experience with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), where she served as the Public Engagement Coordinator for the South West Region. The CWGC was established to commemorate the 1.7 million people of the Commonwealth forces who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars. Across the UK and worldwide, the commission preserves graves, memorials and archives in over 150 countries, ensuring that the sacrifices are remembered by future generations. As part of her work, Rebecca engaged the South West with this history, helping people reconnect with local stories.
The region has a rich military heritage and is currently home to RM Bickleigh, the base for 42 Commando Royal Marines. It also houses the Plymouth Naval Memorial, one of the largest CWGC memorials in the UK, standing as a tribute to 23,000 naval personnel who were lost at sea during the World Wars. Rebecca’s role with the CWGC allowed her to share these stories and foster a spirit of remembrance, a commitment she now carries into Parliament.
Rebecca Smith, Member of Parliament for South West Devon, stated:
It was a privilege to plant a poppy cross on behalf of South West Devon in Parliament’s Constituency Garden of Remembrance. Remembrance is an integral part of British society, something I feel particularly strongly about, having worked for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for more than 6 years. I will never forget the stories of young men and women I had the privilege of sharing across the Southwest for more than six years.
In South West Devon we have a proud military community which includes RM Bickleigh, home of 42 Commando Royal Marines. We must never forget those that paid the ultimate price for our country and the freedoms we enjoy today.
Rebecca will also take part in a range of Remembrance Services in Devon ahead of Armistice Day. On Friday Rebecca will join the Plympton community in Burrow Hill, laying a wreath; on Sunday she will stand shoulder to shoulder with our veterans community on Plymouth Hoe; and in the early hours of the 11th she will lay a wreath on Great Western Railway’s ‘Poppy Train’ at Ivybridge Train Station. Her extremely active involvement with Remembrance from Westminster to South West Devon demonstrates the special importance she places in Remembrance as a former war graves coordinator.
