Victory in Europe and Japan: 80th Anniversaries

Debate between Stephanie Peacock and Rebecca Smith

Thursday 13th March 2025 Commons Chamber

[Stephanie Peacock]

Of course, the whole House thanks the hon. Gentleman for his service as a veteran. He has outlined the importance of VE Day and VJ Day to his constituency of Huntingdon. His specific question about funding is of course one for the MOD, but I will write to the Department to relay his question.

[Rebecca Smith (South West Devon) (Con)]

I draw the House’s attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. As a former member of staff for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and as the chair of the all-party parliamentary group for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and commemoration, I welcome the Minister’s statement. Does she agree that the integration of the CWGC’s “For Evermore” project into the VE Day and VJ Day celebrations is a wonderful opportunity to draw the public’s attention to the CWGC’s relatively new online portal, through which descendants of the men and women of the Commonwealth whom it commemorates can now share in perpetuity their stories of the loved ones they lost? The CWGC is therefore connecting burial records with the life stories and photographs of those who are commemorated for future generations.

[Stephanie Peacock]

The hon. Lady makes an important point, which I echo—the “For Evermore” project is a fantastic initiative. As she says, people can reach it online, and I understand that there will also be 150 mobile exhibitions, not just across the UK but across the world.