A memorial to the work of Army medics is to be opened in Kirklees.
And, fittingly, it is close to the spot where soldiers were killed in an horrific coach bomb attack on the M62.
The Army Medical Services memorial and woodland will be dedicated tomorrow at the Hartshead Moor Motorway Services, close to the spot where 12 people died in an IRA attack on a coach.
The bombing took place on February 4, 1974, in a coach carrying off-duty British Armed Forces personnel and their families, killing nine soldiers and three civilians with numerous others suffering severe injuries.
The memorial is in a wooded area on the motorway service station.
The memorial project has been led by Capt Eddy Hardaker, from the Reserve 207 (Manchester) Field Hospital, with the aim of producing a memorial woodland where Armed Forces personnel can visit and reflect.
The idea was taken up by ‘Life for a Life’ Memorial Forests, a charity based in Oldham, who designed, commissioned and arranged full funding for the Army Medical Services Memorial Woodland and monument.
The monument will be dedicated by the Right Reverend Glyn Webster, the Bishop of Beverley and will be officially opened on behalf of the Director General Army Medical Services by Col Phil Harrison, Corps Colonel, Army Medical Services.
Capt Hardaker said: “This amazing project will produce a remarkable and unique woodland that will have a monument in the centre for personnel to visit and take time to reflect.
“It will also produce funds for charity that both civilian and military communities across the UK will benefit.”
Mr Norman Armstrong-Kersh, founder and chief executive of ‘Life for a Life’, said the Army Medical Services did a fantastic job with dedication, professionalism and first class medical support that was not always recognised.
“I wanted something that would give formal recognition of this while also giving the opportunity to raise charitable funds for both the civilian and military communities across the UK.”
The monument will be dedicated to the four Royal Corps that make up the Army Medical Services which are: the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC); Queen Alexandra Royal Army Nursing Corps (QARANC); Royal Army Veterinary Corps (RAVC) and the Royal Army Dental Corps (RADC).
