SUNDAY was a day of remembrance and commemoration.

Ceremonies took place across Inverclyde as we came together to honour all those who made the ultimate sacrifice in conflicts from World War One to the present day.

It was also the 70th anniversary of the inauguration of the Free French Navy Memorial on Lyle Hill, pictured right.

I had the honour of joining Emmanuel Cocher, Consul General of France in Edinburgh and Glasgow and Rear Admiral Patrick Chevallereau, Defence Attache, French Embassy in the United Kingdom.

It was an opportunity to honour the Free French Naval Forces who took part in operations alongside their British and Allied comrades throughout World War Two including the Battle of the Atlantic and operations in the Arctic and Mediterranean.

I was particularly humbled by the presentation of France’s highest award – The Legion D’Honneur – to Scottish veterans who took part in the D-Day landings and the Liberation of France.

It was exactly 70 years since the Cross of Lorraine was unveiled as the French fleet left the waters of the Clyde, leaving behind a permanent record of the ships lost during six years of war.

Sunday was also the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the final large British attack of the Battle of the Somme – the largest confronation of the First World War on the Western Front where more than 1,000,000 men were killed or wounded, making it one of the bloodiest battles in human history.

After months of stalemate, the Battle of Ancre as it came to be known was a stunning success, with key objectives captured and thousands of German prisoners taken.

Once again the 51st Highland Division was at the fore tasked with taking the notorious fortress village of Beaumont-Hamel and at 5.45am they went ‘over the top’ to begin their assault.

Their success was viewed as one of the greatest feats of arms in the war.

Some consider it to have spelled the beginning of the end for Germany, culminating in the 1918 Armistice which has formed the basis for nearly a century of remembrance for all those killed in conflict.

Inverclyde has played a key role across the years and members of our communities have served with courage and distinction – and they continue to do so.

And we, as the grateful beneficiaries of their courage and sacrifice, will continue to remember them.