Thousands of people are expected at this year’s Remembrance events.

And it will be all the more poignant in the centenary year of the outbreak of World War One.

Leading remembrance in Kirklees will be the Mayor and Mayoress of Kirklees, Clr Ken Smith and Christine Smith, who are also urging support for the Poppy Appeal, which supports the British Armed Forces and their families.

The Mayor said: “The link between our local communities and the sacrifices members of our armed forces make for us has been brought into sharp focus by the centenary of the outbreak of World War One and the further conflicts of the past few years and indeed at present.

“Kirklees, more than many areas, has experienced directly the sad losses of recent conflicts as well as those experienced in the past.

“I am regularly shocked at the number of names on village and town war memorials.

“While military action can feel like it is a world away from here, the cost of the numerous conflicts taking place around the world are felt in our own communities.”

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During his year as Deputy Mayor last year - and as Mayor this year - Clr Smith spoke of the privilege of meeting local members of the Armed Forces and spoke of how the Poppy Appeal supports those who have served in the past, currently and their families.

Clr Smith added: “The demand for their services continues to increase and the need for your support gets more urgent every year.

“Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday are not just about the names of the brave carved into the War Memorials in our towns and villages. Nor are they just about the great dignity showed by the many veterans – old and young - who proudly parade.

“They give us all a brief moment to say thank you to them all and to assure current and future servicemen and women that they have our support and thanks.

A former serviceman at the 2013 Remembrance Day events in Huddersfield
A former serviceman at the 2013 Remembrance Day events in Huddersfield

“We can all do that by wearing a poppy, a visible sign of our pride and gratitude.”

In Calderdale, council workers are cleaning war memorials on the run up to Remembrance Sunday, which falls on November 9.

There the main focus for commemoration will be the Remembrance Sunday Parade at 10.20am from Halifax Town Hall to the cenotaph in Duffy’s Park at Halifax Minster, with a Service of Remembrance at 10.45am prior to the main church service at 11.30am.

Clr Stephen Baines, council leader, said: “Remembrance Sunday is all about remembering those who have died during conflicts and those still serving today. It is a time when we can all reflect on the sacrifices of war.

“The day is really valued by communities, and a lot of Council services work hard to support the commemorations, working with partners to make sure the day goes as smoothly as possible.”

The following events are planned for Kirklees:

Batley - Procession at Batley Market Place at 10.35am to Batley War Memorial Gardens for service at 10.55am. After service procession will re-form in Cambridge Street and return to Town Hall for refreshments.

Birstall - Assemble 1.45pm Carr Street/Market Street corner, Birstall, for march off at 2pm for service at St Peter’s Church at 2.20pm where wreaths will be laid at war memorial at approximately 3pm.

Cleckheaton - Assemble adjacent to the Town Hall at 2pm. Parade will march off at 2.15pm to Memorial Park to lay wreaths. Parade will then march to St John’s Church for service at 2.45pm.

Denby Dale - Service at Holy Trinity Church, Trinity Drive at 9.30am followed by short service and wreath laying ceremony at the War Memorial at 10.50am.

Dewsbury - Procession assembles at Dewsbury Town Hall at 10am for march off at 10.10am to Dewsbury Minster for service at 10.30am. Following service procession will re-form and at approx 11.45am parade to Crow Nest Park for Service and wreath laying at War Memorial at approx 12.45pm. Refreshments will be available in Dewsbury Town Hall for those taking part. A bus will be provided for veterans not wishing to parade.

Golcar– Assemble at Manor Road at 10.15am for service at the War memorial at Jubilee Square at 11am. Parade to Golcar Royal British Legion Club (salute outside the Rose and Crown). Possible short stop at the Providence Church for the congregation to join the parade.

Heckmondwike - Meet at 11.4 am round War Memorial in Green Park, Heckmondwike for service at noon.

Holmfirth - Service to be held at 10.45am in Holy Trinity Parish Church followed by wreath laying service at War Memorial. Wreath to be laid in church then taken to War Memorial for ceremony at noon. Refreshments will be provided in Holme Valley Hospital after the service.

Huddersfield - Procession assembles Victoria Lane at 10.15am for march off at 10.30am. Service at 10.50am at Huddersfield Parish Church, following which the procession will re-form and the salute will be taken in the Market Place on the return route. Procession to Town Hall where refreshments will be available.

Kirkburton- Service at Parish Church at 10.30am. Wreaths laid in church and at war memorial following service.

Marsden - Assemble at Marsden Royal British Legion at 10.20am for march off at 10.40am to Cenotaph in Marsden Park for wreath-laying ceremony and two minutes silence at 11am. Following ceremony parade will re-form and march to St Bartholomew’s Church for Remembrance Service at approximately 11.20am after which it will return via Station Road and Dirker Drive to Royal British Legion HQ for dismissal.

Meltham - Assemble in Carlile Street at 10.20am - march off at 10.30am to St Bartholomews Church where service will be held at 10.45am. Following service parade will re-form in Greensend Road, process through Market Place for salute to be taken on the Library steps prior to dismissal. Wreaths will be laid on war memorial in church grounds following service.

Mirfield - Assemble at 1.30pm in Lowlands Road for march off at 2pm via Station Road and Huddersfield Road for Service & wreath laying at War Memorial in Ings Grove Park. Following service procession will return to Lowlands Road. Tea and Coffee will be served at the Fire Station, refreshments at Mirfield Constitutional Club, St Paul’s Road, and hot food at The Old Colonial, Dunbottle Lane (free of charge).

Slaithwaite - Service in St James’s Parish Church at 9.45am followed by wreath Laying Service at War Memorial at 11am.

Additional Services:

Huddersfield: Saturday 1 November - Dedication of Garden of Remembrance - assemble at 10.45am in Huddersfield Market Place for service at 11am.

Tuesday 11 November – Armistice Day Service – Gather at Greenhead Park lower gates at 10.30am for procession to the War Memorial and service at 10.50am.

Dewsbury: Wednesday 5 November - Assemble Dewsbury Town Hall at 10.45am to process to Longcauseway for Dedication of Garden of Remembrance at 11am. Refreshments following in Dewsbury Town Hall.

Tuesday 11 November – Armistice Day Service – Gather on Longcauseway at 10.50am for brief service at 11am.

Cleckheaton: Monday 3 November – Dedication of Garden of Remembrance outside Town Hall at 11am.

Tuesday 11 November – Service at Memorial Park at 11am.

Meltham: Sunday 2 November following morning service at Parish Church 10.15/10.30am.

Mirfield: Tuesday 11 November - 10.30 am gather for short service at Ings Grove Park at 10.45am.

Longwood: Sunday 9 November – Service at St Mark’s Church at 10.30am, followed by wreath-laying at noon at War Memorial, Longwood Gate, Longwood.

East Bierley & Birkenshaw: Sunday 9 November – Short dedication of Birkenshaw War Memorial in St Paul’s Church at 9.30am. Thereafter the Parade musters in front of the Community Hall for march off at 10.10am through Birkenshaw on Bradford Road to Cenotaph on South View Road, East Bierley.  Act of Remembrance at Cenotaph begins at 10.40am.

Birdsedge: Tuesday 11 November 10.3 am - War Memorial, Penistone Road, Birdsedge.

Honley: Sunday 9 November 10am – Service of Remembrance at St Mary’s Parish Church, Honley. 10.45am – Parade to War Memorial for a Service of Remembrance and laying of wreaths. The Parade will then reform and march back to village centre.

New Mill: Sunday 9 November 10.30am service in New Mill Parish Church. 11.30am procession (with Holmfirth Air Training Corps) into New Mill for wreath laying at noon in the Remembrance Room of New Mill Club, followed by refreshments.

Kirkburton: Tuesday 11 November 10.45 am wreath laying by local schools at the Cenotaph, Kirkburton.