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Howard's Way.... a weekly column from the Rt. Hon. Michael Howard QC. MP. 

1 May 2008

Last Friday I was privileged to attend services at the Cenotaph in Whitehall and at Westminster Abbey to commemorate Anzac Day.

This was the 93rd Anniversary of the landing of Allied Forces at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 which led to one of the bloodiest battled of the First World War. In that battle Australia and New Zealand forces joined together for the first time under a united command as the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, or the ANZACS.

In the heroic campaign that followed the landings the casualties on both sides were heavy. Of the Allied Forces – from the United Kingdom, Newfoundland, India and France, as well as Australia and New Zealand – some 50,000 lost their lives. The total number of casualties on the Allied side, included those wounded or evacuated for sickness, was some 250,000. The Turkish forces list over 86,000 and also sustained a high number of wounded.

The services were, as they always are, deeply moving with high level representatives from Australia, New Zealand and Turkey taking part.

It may seem a far cry from Westminster Abbey on Friday morning to Hawkinge Community Centre on Monday but one theme links the two. That theme is service.

I was at the Community Centre to honour and bid farewell to four of the staff at Shepway HomeStart who were leaving the charity following a reduction in Government funding which has caused it to curtail its activities.

There is nothing military about HomeStart but the service and help which it provides to needy families is quite invaluable.

And, like so many of those who fought so bravely at Gallipoli, the work is actually carried out by volunteers.

They always need more. So if you are an experienced mum with a little time on your hands, phone 01303-244836.

You will be welcomed, trained and given the opportunity to provide real help to some of those who need it most.