People are being asked to pay their respects from home and despite not being able to attend the usual parade at towns in our area, those who lost their lives in war will be at the forefront of our minds.

Today the Dorset Echo pays tribute to some of the local war heroes we have lost and honours their bravery and sacrifice.

Lance Corporal Jonathan McKinlay, 33

Former Weymouth College student Jonathan McKinlay was killed in Afghanistan in 2011 aged 33.

LCpl McKinlay of 1 Rifles was killed by enemy gunfire while on patrol in a village near the checkpoint where he was based.

The father of three – who was sent to Afghanistan in June as a casualty replacement – lived with his family in Blandford.

Married to Lisa, Jonathan was affectionately known as “JJ” and “Commander Meerkat McKinlay”.

He had previously served in Northern Ireland, Iraq and had also seen action in Afghanistan before the tour in which he was killed.

Jonathan was born in Rinteln Hospital in Germany and spent his childhood growing up in the south of England. He later lived in Darlington with his wife Lisa.

He joined the Army in 1996 and qualified as a mortar fire controller and was with B Company, 1st Battalion The Rifles.

Paying tribute to Jonathan, the Army spokesman described him as 'outgoing and friendly' and said 'he had time for everyone he met.'

Jonathan's friend Corporal Chris Hardy said: “He was a true hero. Jon was like an older brother that I could always depend on.”

Jack Mantle, 23

Born in London and raised in Southampton, this honorary son of Dorset was only the second person to be awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery.

Even more remarkably he was awarded it posthumously for his gallantry at Portland Harbour in the Second World War.

On 4 July 1940, during an air raid on Portland, England, Leading Seaman Mantle of HMS Foylebank, who was manning the starboard 20mm pom-pom gun, had his left leg shattered by the blast from a bomb early in the action. Although wounded again many times, he remained at his gun, training and firing by hand when Foylebank's electric power failed, until he collapsed and died.

He is buried in the Royal Naval Cemetery on Portland.

James Wright, 22

Former Wey Valley School pupil James Wright was killed in Helmand Province, Afghanistan in 2011 after his patrol was attacked by insurgents.

Marine Wright, from 42 Commando, was wounded when a grenade was thrown into a checkpoint. He died later in hospital at Camp Bastion.

His family, friends and colleagues paid tribute to a young man who was immensely proud of wearing the Green Beret and died doing a job he loved.

A keen sportsman and motocross fan, Marine Wright overcame a shoulder injury to complete his Commando training.

The hero received a full military funeral in Weymouth with the town's citizens paying their respects in a minute's silence. 

James never got to meet his daughter Lily, who his girlfriend Shelley was pregnant with when he was killed. Last year Shelley hosted a fundraising event to raise money for charity Scotty's Little Soldiers, which helped her after Lily was born. 

The charity supports children who have lost a parent whilst serving in the Armed Forces. 

Pilot Officer Rogers Miller, 20

Pilot Officer Rogers Freeman Garland Miller of RAF Warmwell 609 squadron was just 20 years old when his Spitfire collided with a German Messerschmitt aircraft over Cheselbourne, near Dorchester, on the morning of September 27, 1940.

Rogers, who was born at Redlands, Weymouth had bravely led his squadron into battle after the commander's radio failed, according to Cheselbourne resident Robin Maslin, who researched the incident.

"The British received warning of the attack too late - they were unable to climb to an altitude where they could swoop down and retaliate," said Mr Maslin, a former school teacher.

"Pilots who survived the encounter said there was some sort of mêlé and the two aircraft crashed into each other."

His niece Carey Parkinson said she felt 'a mixture of sadness and pride' over her uncle's role in the Battle.

"It's terrible that I didn't get to meet him," said Mrs Parkinson, who lives in Essex.

"My Grandmother lost both her sons - my uncle John was also a pilot; he was killed just a few weeks before.

"Rogers and John were very popular at school, very sporty, and had motorbikes and lots of girlfriends."