Star comment: Harry Langford's death is big loss to proud nation

The platoon sergeant, who defied the Nazi high command, was 97.

With his passing, we mourn not just one of the nation's bravest soldiers, but also the loss of a generation who fought bravely for our liberty.

Men like Harry are the reason why we enjoy a life of freedom.

They stood firm in the face of the Nazi war machine, that was intent on wiping out Western Europe and the freedoms it enjoyed.

Had Harry and his colleagues not battled bravely to stave off the threat of a rampaging Germany during the Second World War, our lives would be very different.

Harry witnessed the fall of many brave Second World War soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in order to preserve the freedoms that we now take for granted.

They risked life and limb, not sparing a thought for their own personal safety, in their successful fight against Nazi Germany.

Harry was a member of the King's Shropshire Light Infantry, a regiment of the British Army that was formed in 1881 but had connections stretching back to 1755.

Sadly, the KSLI, like Harry, is no more. It was amalgamated with three other county light infantry regiments in 1968 to become part of the Light Infantry. Since then, the Light Infantry has also been lost to a further amalgamation.

The KSLI was stationed in Shrewsbury and served with distinction through numerous wars. It succeeded in Egypt and the Eastern Sudan during the 19th century and all of the major campaigns of the 20th Century.

The Shropshire-based unit led from the front and a member of the KSLI was the first recorded casualty of Second World War.

Corporal Thomas Priddy was killed by a landmine near Metz on December 9 1939. Others, however, survived, and Harry Langford was among them.

He served with courage and bravery throughout his KSLI stint and we ought to all pause on his commitment on this sad day.

Today, we remember Harry and other brave soldiers from Shropshire who preserved our freedom. We will never forget them.