MORE than 100 soldiers were cheered on by hundreds of well-wishers as they paraded through Huddersfield town centre.
The 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment exercised the regiment’s Freedom of Huddersfield with a colourful parade on Saturday.
Click here for a picture gallery of the march.
A further six soldiers in a Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle drove behind the marching troops.
People of all ages lined the streets waving flags and cheering as the soldiers paraded past.
Members of The King’s Division Normandy Band led the soldiers on the parade to the Market Place, where Kirklees Mayor Clr Karam Hussain took the salute and spoke to some of the soldiers.
Ten-year-old Mylissa Wasp, from Marsden, got a front row spot to see her older brother, Pte Daniel Wood, and her cousin, Pte Kyle Martin, parade.
She waved a flag as the soldiers marched past and stopped for the salute in front of her and her parents, Michelle and Paul Wasp.
Mrs Wasp said: “All the family were here to see Daniel and Kyle parade. The only time we’ve seen Daniel parade was at his passing out five years ago, so it’s really special to see him here in our own town centre.
“We’re really proud of them both and what they’ve achieved.”
Pensioners Lily Abbott and Mavis Woodhead, both from Slaithwaite, were also among the well-wishers.
Mrs Abbott, 82, said: “It’s wonderful to see our soldiers here. It’s not something you get to see that often nowadays, so I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.
“I think it’s also nice that so many people came here today to show their support, especially the children cheering them on.
“Our soldiers do a wonderful job serving their country and we should all be behind them.”
The Yorkshire Regiment started its parade on St John’s Road and marched to Market Place.
The regiment – previously the Duke Of Wellington’s Regiment – was granted the freedom of the former Huddersfield County Borough in 1952.
It was taken over by Kirklees Council in 1974 and when the Dukes became the 3rd Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment in 2006 the freedom was transferred.
Soldiers last marched through the town centre in 2002.
Clr Hussain said: “Awarding the freedom of the borough to individuals – and in this case the former Duke of Wellington’s Regiment – is an honour that is very rarely given.
“Times have moved on in recent years and the former Dukes are now proudly part of the Yorkshire Regiment.
“Their connection with Huddersfield goes back hundreds of years and I’m pleased that The Yorkshire Regiment had this special parade through the town.
“The 2002 parade marked the 300-year anniversary of the former Duke of Wellington’s Regiment and this is the first of what I hope will be many more freedom parades by the regiment.”
After the Huddersfield parade the soldiers marched through Halifax town centre to exercise their freedom of the borough.
