IN November we honour those who have fallen in the service of their country.

A tradition started to mark the end of the First World War, the country has come together each year to remember the fallen on Armistice Day on November 11. After the Second World War, we also remember those who fought for us on Remembrance Sunday, held on the second Sunday of November.

These few days hold particular poignance for those of us who have served or have family who served during these harrowing times.

My own great grandfather, Wilfred Ballinger, served in the Royal Artillery at the Somme, before being caught in an explosion from a German shell. He was badly wounded, but fortunate to be evacuated back to Stourbridge, when so many of his colleagues in that bloody battle did not return.

In what feels like a long time ago now, I served in Afghanistan, and during my maiden speech in September, I spoke about another Royal Marine from Halesowen who served in Afghanistan. Marine Jonathan Crookes was a Halesowen hero who fell protecting his colleagues in Sangin in July 2010. This week I felt privileged to place a cross at the Constituency Garden of Remembrance in Parliament in his memory.

Parliament is also remembering those who have fallen whilst serving as Members of Parliament or working on the Parliamentary estate. Many will remember David Amess MP and Jo Cox MP both killed by terrorists at their constituency surgeries. Other members died on the battlefield alongside those they represented.

I’m working with colleagues to commission a new memorial at the National Arboretum in Alrewas in the memory of parliamentarians killed in battle or by terrorism. If you can make it to the National Arboretum I highly recommend it – it is a very accessible way for children to learn about the history of Remembrance and the sacrifices of those who came before us.

There are a number of events happening across Halesowen this weekend to mark Remembrance. I am incredibly proud to see the town coming together to honour those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

I will be joining veterans at Shell Corner for a short ceremony, at Holy Trinity Church Old Hill for their Festival of Remembrance, a Remembrance Service at St Luke’s Church Ground in Cradley Heath and the Remembrance Day Parade ending in a service at St John’s War Memorial in Halesowen.