ONE of the most important jobs I have as provost – supported by our depute provosts – is representing Inverclyde at events marking both local and national commemorations.

At the start of the month I was honoured to be invited to a special service of commemoration in Edinburgh for the 35th anniversary of the Falklands Conflict and the 10th anniversary of the end of operations in Northern Ireland – Operation Banner.

The invasion and occupation of the Falklands in April 1982 saw our servicemen and women sent halfway around the world into harm’s way to reclaim the islands and reaffirm them as sovereign British territory.

The 74 day conflict ended with the Argentine surrender at a cost of 649 Argentine lives. In total 255 British military personnel were killed and three Falkland islanders died during the hostilities.

Operation Banner was the name for the British Armed Forces’ operation in Northern Ireland that ended in July 2007 after nearly 38 years.

It was the longest continuous deployment in British military history, which at its peak, saw around 21,000 troops in Northern Ireland.

The service at Edinburgh’s Canongate Kirk was an opportunity to remember everyone involved in these two relatively recent conflicts and for the Royal British Legion Scotland – who organised the event – to parade their standards and lay wreaths in honour of all those killed.

On Saturday – and closer to home – I was delighted Depute Provost Ronnie Ahlfeld was able to attend the annual service for the hundreds of Gourock soldiers killed at Achi Baba, pictured, over 100 years ago today.

On 12 July 1915 a sixth attempt was made to capture the prominent hill position on the Gallipoli peninsula from its Turkish defenders.

Around 300 Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders – mostly from Inverclyde – were among the 4,000 killed or wounded during the Battle of Achi Baba.

The scale of the casualties with so many young men losing their lives had a major impact on Gourock both then and to this day.

The Achi Baba commemoration is a chance to remember them and their families and the sacrifice they made so many years ago.

But it is also about honouring the men and women of our armed forces today and reaffirming our commitment and support for the armed forces community – including veterans, reservists and cadets – and to recognise their outstanding contribution to this country.