THREE of Huddersfield’s bravest men were remembered in a memorial service yesterday.
And the lives of soldiers Cpl Jake Hartley, Pte Anton Frampton and Pte Daniel Wilford were celebrated in the special service at Huddersfield Parish Church.
The three were killed when their Warrior armoured vehicle was blown up by a massive improvised explosive device about 25 miles north of the capital of Helmand province, Lashkar Gah, in March.
They died alongside Pte Daniel Wade, 20, of Warrington, Pte Christopher Kershaw, 19, of Bradford, and Sgt Nigel Coupe, 33, of Lytham St Annes.
Yesterday dignitaries and well-wishers joined relatives of the soldiers for the service led by Bishop of Wakefield, the Rt Rev Stephen Platten, and Vicar of Huddersfield, the Rev Simon Moor.
The service was organised by the Rev Moor, who said he had been moved by the town’s tributes to the soldiers.
The Rt Rev Platten paid tribute to Pte Wilford, 21, of Cowlersley, Cpl Hartley, 20, of New Mill, and Pte Anton Frampton, 20, of Longwood.
The Bishop said Pte Wilford had been “determined to make his dad proud” after his father died and was “the life and soul of a party”.
He said Cpl Hartley had “wanted to be the best soldier”.
The Bishop praised Pte Frampton as a “soldier’s soldier” who “loved his home, music and his family”.
He added: “All of us will be struck down by the cruelty of war.
“Despite all this, we feel immense pride and huge admiration for those who gave everything down to their lives.”
Tributes were also paid to Afghan war victims L-Cpl Graham Shaw, 27, of Golcar, and former Huddersfield University student Cpt Lisa Head, 29.
L-Cpl Shaw was killed by a bomb in February 2010.
Bomb disposal expert Cpt Head died in April 2011 after a bomb she was defusing exploded.
Relatives of Cpl Hartley and Pte Wilford yesterday lit candles for their departed relatives.
After prayers the service finished with The Last Post, the national anthem and Jerusalem.
