As Remembrance Day commemorations draw to a close, Royal British Legion members are keen to remind people of the importance of honouring the war dead all year round.

Ray Gross and Dave Cooke of the Leyton branch of the Royal British Legion hope the decorated war memorial in Coronation Gardens off Leyton High Road will serve as a reminder of the sacrifice made by soldiers in days gone by.

“People have to stop and think of the reason they are standing there looking at the wreaths,” said Mr Cooke, chairman of the branch. “It’s because of the men and women who fought for us.”

Mr Gross, the branch’s secretary, is working tirelessly to reach the younger generation with the Legion’s message and has spoken to thousands of pupils at schools in Waltham Forest and Enfield.

Accompanied by fellow Legion ambassadors, Mr Gross brings home the reality of life at the front for the young men who enlisted during the First and Second World Wars and explains to the children the meaning behind the poppy.

Volunteering his time to ensure the youngsters have a solid understanding of the charity’s work is rewarding for Mr Gross, but he admits some questions fired at him can raise eyebrows.

“You would be amazed at the questions some of them come up with,” he said.

“They ask me if I was in the war or if I died fighting in the war.

“I was so happy to see so many young children at this year’s parade. It shows what we are doing is so important. I was impressed.

“They are going to be our future. We are not getting any younger and they will take over from us so they need to be educated.

“We are the only branch in the country that has volunteers going into schools doing this work.”

The workshops for children aged five to 11 years focus on the need for the Legion in today’s society.

Pupils are taught about the help that is available for men and women returning form war who have lost limbs or suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Leyton branch has one of the oldest WWII veterans in the country – 98-year-old Bill Allen of the Royal Berkshire Regiment.

Mr Allen who used to ride a motorcycle during the war years, was assigned to protect Field Marshall Bernard Law Montgomery.

This year, members marked Remembrance Day with their biggest parade in recent years, with up to 300 people gathering in Coronation Gardens to pay their respects.

Individuals and groups placed crosses and wreaths at the foot of the park’s war memorial which features a plaque honouring Leyton-native John Cornwell, who died aged 16 in the First World War.

Army cadets, sea scouts, the military, girl guides, the Old Boys Brigade marching band and representatives of the emergency services were in attendance.

The high road was blocked off to allow the parade to march through and a service was held nearby at St Mary’s Church in Church Road.

Mr Cooke said: “It’s not easy organising it. There’s a lot to do and people don’t realise that.

“But when it all comes together you put your hands together and look up to the sky and thank God.”

Schools who wish to host a visit by the RBL ambassadors should contact Leyton Royal British Legion on 0208 558 0402.