Matthew attended the Remembrance Service at Hendon War Memorial. This was the twentieth year he has done so, eight years as the Councillor for the Hendon Ward and Deputy Leader of Barnet Council and twelve years as the Member of Parliament for Hendon. While the service was suspended in 2021, Matthew still laid a wreath in memory of those fallen. 

Matthew was reminded by another attendee at this year's service about the sacrifice made of animals in war. Thousands of horses, birds and dogs were killed in war alongside mules whose vocal chords were cut (to prevent them alerting the enemy) and glow worms used for reading maps in the First World War. While no human chose to die in conflict, animals were not given a choice to serve.

Matthew said: "I am proud to have attended the service for two decades. It is a service I value and is a good reminder that the decisions politicians make have an impact in the world. This continues to this day with conflicts continuing overseas.

“It is repugnant that more soldiers were killed in the final five hours of the First World War than in the whole D-Day landings. This should be remembered to this day with conflicts continuing overseas. 

"The number of people in attendance demonstrated to me that whilst those commemorated have fallen, they are not for gotten. But the loss of war extends beyond service personnel to civilians and animals. War exacts a terrible price that should never be forgotten."