A LOCAL MP, who died in the First World War, was among the names read out at an emotional remembrance ceremony.

Valentine Fleming, Henley MP at the time of his death in May 1917, the father of authors Ian Fleming and Peter Fleming was one of twenty soldiers remembered at a Turning the Pages ceremony at Christ Church Cathedral.

After the ceremony on Saturday, the Royal British Legion’s county chairman Lynda Atkins paid tribute to veterans Jim Lewendon and Sam Langford, who died recently and were regulars at such events.

Fleming was commanding officer of the Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars (QOOH) ‘C’ squadron and was also appointed second in command of the entire regiment in January 1916.

He was killed by German shell fire at Gillemont Farm near Somme on May 20, 1917.

Derek Marsh, 82, from Chipping Norton, who served with the RAF, read out the names of ten soldiers from the Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars, which included Henley MP Valentine Fleming, five from each war.

He said: “I just remember all the people that died for us - reading out the names is such an important thing.

“It’s vital that we keeping remembering what they did for us.

“A great friend of mine - Major Arthur Villiers - took over from Valentine Fleming, so I was thinking about them both.”

Major Villiers travelled to Gillemont Farm in May 1917 after the bombardment became so intense and he hadn’t heard from the squadron for some time.

He is said to have found that, despite Fleming’s death, the morale he had inspired was so good that the squadron - hit by heavy casualities - was fully in charge of the situation.

He took over and was later awarded a Distinguished Service Order for holding the farm from the enemy.

The names of ten soldiers from the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who died in the First World War and Second World War were also read out.

Roy Stephens, who served in the Ox and Bucks and later the Royal Green Jackets in a military career spanning twenty years had the honour of reading out the names.

The 73-year-old, from Carterton, said: “I was probably a bit emotional, it’s the third time I have read the names out and it is so important that we do so and remember them and the sacrifices they made for us.

“It’s vital youngsters keep learning about what happened and remembering those who died, especially as we build up to November and 100 years since Armistice Day.”