Crowds lined the streets to witness Yorkshire Regiment soldiers march through Huddersfield.
More than 100 soldiers from the regiment exercised their right to parade through the town, as the Freedom Charter allows.
The regiment band drummed out its top tunes as the men did a steady march into town from St John’s Road to assemble for the Freedom Parade inspection.
There, the proud warriors’ resplendent in their dress uniforms were presented to the Vice Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Mr Tim Hare and a host of dignitaries, including the Mayor of Kirklees, army veterans and local politicians.
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A speech of thanks to the soldiers was given by the mayor, Clr Paul Kane, while onlookers gathered to watch the spectacle and applaud their efforts.
Clr Kane said: “While war has not taken place on these shores for many decades – it is closer to home now than many people realise.
“Young soldiers from Kirklees have fallen in conflicts in the last few of years. Some of our young people – members of your regiment - have died representing their country, striving for a better world but taken down in the prime of their life.
“The recent service in Afghanistan is a reminder for us who stay at home, that some of our young citizens are paying the ultimate price for our security.
“It is a constant danger into which you place yourselves, so we can be safe at home.
“So I am grateful to you for coming to march through the town centre, and allow me the chance to thank you personally for what you do and share in the pride you generate.
“Let me assure you – we are incredibly proud of the work you do, and that you do it with such strength and dignity under the name of Yorkshire.”
After the ceremony on a rain-soaked New Street, the soldiers did a lap of the town centre before travelling on to Halifax to perform another parade.
The Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, now part of the Yorkshire Regiment, was granted the freedom of the former County Borough of Huddersfield in 1952.
Kirklees Council granted the passing of this honour to The Yorkshire Regiment on its formation in 2006.
The parade was held to mark the bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo in which ‘The Dukes’ were heavily involved, along with other Yorkshire regiments.
