CHEERS rang out as the Yorkshire Regiment paraded on its return home from Afghanistan.
But there were moments of sadness as the 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment (Duke of Wellington’s) marched through Halifax without 10 of its troops – four from Huddersfield.
As the Mayor of Calderdale, Clr John Hardy, summed up: “As a result of the tour of Afghanistan you have lost ten of your brothers in arms. I can only imagine the loss of those brave young men and we remember them here today.”
There was silence then applause as he read the names of the men who didn’t return home from the tour.
In March, Corporal Jake Hartley, 20, of New Mill, Pte Anton Frampton, 20, of Longwood, and Pte Daniel Wilford, 21, of Cowlersley, all died when their Warrior armoured vehicle was blown up by a Taliban improvised explosive device.
Their comrades Pte Christopher Kershaw, 19, of Bradford, and Pte Daniel Wade, 20, from Warrington – all of 3rd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment – and Sergeant Nigel Coupe, 33, of 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, were also killed in the attack.
Meltham’s Private Tom Wroe, 18, and Sergeant Gareth Thursby, 29, of North Yorkshire, were shot dead in the south of Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, in September.
Pte Gregg Stone, 20, from Hull, was shot during an operation to rescue a policeman kidnapped by insurgents in June.
A second member of The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, also attached to the Yorkshire Regiment, Kingsman Ryan Ward, was found dead at his home in Kendal, Cumbria, in October.
Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Zac Stenning, said: “The men and women you see before you today have just returned from an arduous and challenging operational tour of Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
Click below to see pictures from the parade.
“Facing them every day were circumstances that required the best values of a British Army soldier; a soldier who is proud, honest but above all who is tough.
“All in all it required a Yorkshireman.
“They delivered everything that was expected of them and more.
“And whilst I recognise that this has been a unique summer for the sportsmen and sportswomen of this county, I hope also today you recognise the contribution that a Yorkshire Regiment soldier has made.
“But an operational tour comes with inherent risks, those risks are evident today with those who are currently recovering from their wounds, and above all in those that are no longer with us.
“Those ten men, our fallen brothers who have given their lives so others may live, are testament to the character serving in the Yorkshire Regiment and they are deeply missed.”
Shoppers, workers and residents lined the streets of the town centre and watched the Mayor welcome the troops to the Piece Hall.
The children of Greetland Academy had made a ‘welcome home’ banner for the parade.
Anna Wilde, of Bradley, took her granddaughter, Lily, two, along.
She said: “I don’t know anyone in the Regiment, but I’ve read about the loss Huddersfield has had this year alone and wanted to come and show my appreciation.
“These young lads and lasses are living lives unimaginable to the rest of us, the least we can do is show our support.”
Sara Armitage, of Birkby, who works in Halifax, watched the parade on her lunch break.
The 38-year-old said: “A moment to recognise what they’ve done is nothing really, but it’s all we can do.”
David Turner, 72, of Elland, also watched and he said: “These guys are fighting on the frontline and then doing all this pomp and parading – they’re braver than the rest of us. It’s a fine show, wonderful to see the parade of this kind so close to home.”
After speeches at the Piece Hall the troops made their way to Halifax Minster for a homecoming service.
The Vicar of Halifax, the Rev Canon Hilary Barber, said it was an “excellent opportunity to show how grateful we all are for the courage and selflessness of the soldiers” and to “pay respect to the fallen troops who have given their lives for our country’s freedom”.
The Regiment is in York today for a ceremony in front of the Duke of York.
More delays hit Kirklees College move - now it's 12 months later than planned: Click here to read.
