WITH drums beating and flags held aloft Dukes past and present marched to save their famous regiment.

A crowd of more than 500 gathered in Halifax on Saturday to attack Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon's plans to axe the 302- year-old Duke of Wellington's Regiment.

The young marched alongside the veterans - but all had one defiant message to Mr Hoon and the Government: "Hands off the Dukes."

Mr Hoon announced in the summer that the Dukes could be merged with other Yorkshire regiments The Green Howards and the Prince of Wales's Own.

They would form the Yorkshire Regiment, but could lose their identity and rich history.

Speaking exclusively to the Examiner after the rally the Colonel of the Regiment, Maj-Gen Sir Evelyn Webb-Carter, attacked Mr Hoon's proposal and said they were a cost cutting exercise.

"This is about money," he said. "But for 302 years this regiment has served Great Britain and it deserves to be treated better than this.

"There are connections with the Dukes through family lines going back hundreds of years. We cannot simply disregard thing like that on a whim.

"Mr Hoon should hold fire on his decision. The world is an unstable place at the moment and this is not a decision that should be made now."

Addressing the crowds at the Piece Hall Sir Evelyn said: "We are well-recruited because we are intrinsically a family-orientated regiment.

"Son follows father and brother follows brother. That is the regiment's strength. It is about friends and relatives fighting together.

"The message is clear. Hands off Yorkshire. Hands off the Dukes,"

Brothers Charles, 80, and Patrick Wall, 74, from Marsh, marched in memory of their brother, Jack, who died aged just 23, two days before the end of hostilities in North Africa in the Second World War.

They said Jack was a proud Duke and for his memory and those of the other fallen soldiers the name should live on.

Patrick said: "This is one of the best-known regiments in the British Army. You cannot simply do away with it without a thought. It has history and meaning.

"Jack would have wanted us here today."

Veteran Duke 92-year- old Harry Haldenby, of Brighouse, was shocked that the regiment could lose its identity.

He said: "The Dukes have fought for centuries to protect this nation and now they want to get rid of them. It is absolutely disgusting."

Pat Harley's son, Darren, 43, husband Peter, 71, and brother Peter 69, were all Dukes.

Pat, 67, from Berry Brow, said she was appalled the future of the Dukes was in the balance while the regiment was fighting in Iraq.

"Young soldiers are putting themselves at risk and fighting for us."

"My heart goes out to the lads in Iraq. It must be difficult for them not knowing what is going to happen."

The Army Board is set to make its decision on the Dukes this Thursday.