DURING November you provided tremendous press coverage - deservedly so - of the commemorative events surrounding the 80th Anniversary of the 1918 Armistice. I am sure that many of your readers were deeply moved by the tributes paid to local people who died in the two World Wars and subsequent conflicts.

Her Majesty's visit to the Menin Gate in Ypres, together with TV interviews with the few surviving Great War veterans also seems to have struck a particular chord in the national consciousness.

Whatever the reason, in the weeks that followed, the Royal British Legion has been deluged with enquiries. It is evident that the gratitude and respect felt for those who fought on our behalf is now matched by a growing demand, from a different generation, to understand their experience. Thus while commemoration is important, many seek also to discover what was like for their forbears who fought in the two World Wars - how ordinary men met extraordinary challenges in the face of fear, fatigue, bad weather and a determined enemy.

The Royal British Legion, as the Nation's foremost ex-service charity has been involved in visits to war graves and cemeteries since 1927. Now, in response to the growing public interest, we are adding to our programme of tours. The 'Remember Them!' programme is designed to bring the past to life in an accessible, affordable and informative way. Tours are planned to France, Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands, including the battles of Ypres, the Somme, Dunkirk, Cassino, Anzio, the Normandy Landings and Arnhem. A special tour in April 2000 will travel to the Dardenelles in Turkey, scene of the ill-fated Gallipoli expedition.

The first 'Remember Them' tour is scheduled for next May, and will cover the Great War battles of Loos, the Somme and Vimy Ridge.

Quite separately, the traditional Legion programme of war graves pilgrimages continues, including financial assistance for widows seeking to visit a husband's grave for the first time. Any of your readers interested in further information on either the 'Remember Them!' Tours or War Graves Pilgrimages may care to write to me. I shall be happy to send details.

Colonel C J Newbould CBE

War Graves Pilgrimages

The Royal British Legion Village, Aylesford, Kent ME20 7NX

Telephone 01622 716729/716182

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.