REMEMBRANCE Sunday is always a poignant occasion in Inverclyde — and this year it will be even more so than ever.

For a distinctive new memorial is to be unveiled in Port Glasgow in time to honour World War One heroes from the town.

The ‘Toll Boys’, like so many others, volunteered enthusiastically to go to war to escape unemployment and in the belief it would be an exciting adventure.

Little did they know the horrors that awaited them, or how long the catastrophic conflict would continue.

For some of today’s youngsters, the year 2014 may seem ages ago when we were marking the centenary of the start of WW1.

But try to turn back the clock and imagine what 1914 to 1917 must have been like for the teenage Toll Boys... and there was still another year of the war to endure.

The Toll Boys’ plaque at 5 Robert Street carries the names of 29 who lost their lives. Many more of them went to war and survived, one of whom, John Lewis, lost both legs but bravely performed the plaque’s unveiling in 1921.

Records show that John was so moved by Port And District Pipe Band playing The Flowers of the Forest at the ceremony that he completely broke down. Little wonder, for the last time he had heard it was over the burying place of his friend near Ypres.

Lest we forget...