Last Sunday I joined the hundreds of people who turned out to support the Step Short First World War memorial march in Folkestone. This is the third annual march and is held on the first Sunday of August to mark the anniversary of the outbreak of the Great War. The march commemorates the sacrifices made by the millions who were killed and injured but also the central role played by the town and people of Folkestone at this time. Folkestone was the main port for embarkation to and from the trenches and it was estimated that nine million servicemen came through the town. At 11am along with serving members of the Gurkhas, members of the Royal British Legion and local dignitaries we retraced the steps that many of those servicemen took to the ships that would take them to France; along the Leas from The Grand, down the Road of Remembrance and into the harbour.
This year as we walked, we were asked to consider the life of a single local serviceman, Corporal Luke Cotter from Sandgate, who had worked for a builder in Elham, and who died as a result of wounds received in combat in 1916. He was one of the many who made that journey from Folkestone to fight for freedom, and who made the ultimate sacrifice. Most families in the British Isles will have a link to Folkestone during the First World War and the Step Short project wants to encourage them to visit the town to walk in the footsteps of their great grandfathers. An information centre has now opened in The Hub next to the Tram Road car park in the harbour where you can find more information about Folkestone during the war. Step Short is also working on the digitisation of the visitor books that were kept in the old Mole Cafe on the harbour arm which were signed by 40,000 servicemen during the war, and also includes the signatures of King George V, Field Marshall Haig, and David Lloyd George. This work has been made possible from funds raised by Step Short, and support from Kent County Council and the Roger De Haan Charitable Trust.
I have been Chairman of the Step Short project since it started four years ago, and we want to ensure that Folkestone becomes one of the main locations in the UK for the commemoration of the centenary of the outbreak of the war in 2014.
Sunday’s march also acted as a reminder that we have had tough times as a country in the past and that through hard work, perseverance and belief we can overcome anything. The problems of the last week; the riots in London and Birmingham, concerns about the future of the euro and the world economy set tough challenges for our times too. But these are challenges that we can meet if we can address the causes of the problems. This is why it was so important for the Government to set out a clear strategy for the country to live within its means and clear its deficit. It is why must also be clear that the law will be enforced and that looting, and violence can never be an acceptable form of protest. I look forward to Parliament’s recall this Thursday so we can address these issues.