A community aims to continue a decades-old tradition to remember Yorkshire soldiers who gave their lives in the Second World War.
Former war veteran Walter Horne erected a wooden memorial cross on the moors at Pule Hill above Marsden in the 1950s.
The original cross, dedicated to the fallen from the 2nd and 7th battalion the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, was vandalised and fell into disrepair.
In 2004 village craftsman Nick Horn made a replacement and the new cross was dedicated in the May of that year in a special ceremony attended by the late Walter’s widow Zena.
Now, 10 years on, Nick is restoring the cross ready for this year’s annual Remembrance service.
Every year a hardy band of locals trek up onto Marsden Moor to pay their respects and one man keeping up the tradition is Barrie Biltcliffe, who is 84 today.
“It’s an important tradition that we must carry on,” said Barrie.
“About eight or 10 of us go every year for a Remembrance service and a two minute silence. Some years the weather’s all right, other times it’s not.
“It’s quite a trek and many elderly people can’t make it. I have been offered a lift in a 4x4 this time but I will walk. And I will keep doing it for as long as I can.”
This year’s service, conducted by the vicar of Marsden the Rev Geoff Garside, will be held on Saturday, November 8 at 11am.
Nick, 49, who now lives in Holmfirth, said the cross – made of pitch pine from a Meltham mill – just needed cleaning up and varnishing and said: “It won’t take much work and it’ll be ready for the next 10 years.”
Anyone who wants to attend can meet up at the layby near the former Coach and Horses pub in Manchester Road at 10.15am.
“Whatever happens I’ll be there,” said Barrie.
