war memorial Archives - Page 2 of 4

Sunday Picture Quiz Answers: June 15D-Day fallen commemorated in Harrogate ceremonyThousands gather to mark Ripon’s Remembrance Sunday

An estimated 3,000 people gathered at the War Memorial in Spa Gardens and along Ripon’s ancient streets and Market Place, as the city paid its respects this morning to the fallen of two world wars and other conflicts

Wreaths were laid as Andrew Cowie, president of the Ripon Branch of the Royal British Legion (pictured below, left), read out almost 400 local names from Akers to Young, who gave their lives in the service of this country.

Deputy Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Richard Compton, representing King Charles III and Mayor Councillor Sid Hawke representing the city, were among the first to put wreaths in place.

Later, they took the salute outside the town hall (pictured above) as Ripon City Band led the march past along Market Place South and down Kirkgate to the cathedral, where a civic service of remembrance, attended by members of the city council and other dignitaries, was held.

The service was led by the Bishop of Ripon, the Rt Revd. Anna Eltringham, who had earlier been with the Dean of Ripon the Very Revd John Dobson and Canon Matthew Pollard, for the Remembrance Sunday prayers and hymns in Spa Gardens.

Ripon’s Royal Engineers (pictured above) who have had the Freedom of the City since 1949, were among the service personnel, Air Cadets, Army Cadets and members of uniformed organisations who took part in the parade.

Main picture: The Mayor of Ripon Councillor Sid Hawke, laid a wreath on behalf of the city at this morning’s Remembrance Service at Ripon War Memorial.

Harrogate prepares for milestone Remembrance Day service

Large crowds are expected in Harrogate town centre on Sunday for the annual Remembrance Day service and parade.

The event is always a major occasion, with road closures and large crowds gathering around the war memorial to pay their respects and observe a two-minute silence.

But this year’s activities will be especially poignant as it coincides with the 100th anniversary of the town’s war memorial, which was unveiled by Henry Lascelles, the 6th Earl of Harewood, on September 1, 1923.

It cost £12,000 and contains the names of 1,163 men and women who died in two world wars.

Sunday also marks the end of the Cenotaph Centenary — a programme of events since the start of September commemorating the centenary.

You Must Remember This, which is being held tonight at the West Park United Reformed Church, will feature military-themed music by three choirs.

Attention will then turn to Sunday’s Remembrance Day activities.

Service at the war memorial

Crowds are invited to gather at the war memorial from 10am.

The service will commence at 10.50am, followed by the two-minute silence at 11am.

Wreaths will be laid, the Kohima epitaph will be read the and the reveille will play.

The memorial was built in 1923.

Road closures

North Yorkshire Council has said the following roads will be closed on Sunday from 8:30am to 1pm to facilitate the parade and service:

Cheltenham Crescent, Oxford Street, Union Street, Parliament Street, Albert Street, Prospect Place, James Street, John Street, Princes Street, Cambridge Crescent, and Cambridge Road.

Only one lane will be open on West Park during the parade.

A full list of services across the district is available here.

Harrogate war veteran, 99, to recall Nazi concentration camp liberation

A Harrogate World War II veteran believed to be among the first servicewomen to enter a Nazi concentration camp is to give a talk about her experiences next week.

Sheila Pantin, who will be 100 next month, will give the talk as part of the Harrogate war memorial centenary commemorations.

The event, which is sold out, will take place at the town’s West Park United Reformed Church.

Sheila joined the army aged 17 and trained as an ambulance and staff car driver with the Auxiliary Territorial Service, the women’s branch of the British Army, rising to the rank of sergeant.

She became one of the first British servicewomen to enter Belsen concentration camp in April 1945 after its liberation.

Reflecting on the time, Sheila said:

“I thought they meant ‘barracks’ but it turned out they didn’t mean that at all. There was the camp with this huge entrance and an awful lot of huts surrounded by barbed wire fencing.

“We were entering Belsen. I could see our boys digging out mass graves to give the bodies proper burials.

“The only people left alive were in rags and were in a terrible state. They didn’t even know how to eat.”

It was Sheila’s job to look after the survivors in the camp, to clean them, dress them, show them how to use a knife and fork, to try to restore a little humanity after the horrors of the Nazi Holocaust.

Sheila’s talk will take place on Wednesday, September 27, and forms part of a wider selection of events taking place as part of the commemoration.

More details of the centenary commemorations are available here.

Last Post marks 100th anniversary of Harrogate war memorial

The Last Post sounded in Harrogate today at the start of a series of events marking the 100th anniversary of the town’s war memorial.

The memorial was unveiled by Henry Lascelles, the 6th Earl of Harewood, on September 1, 1923.

It cost £12,000 and contains the names of 1,163 men and women who died in two world wars.

Dignitaries and members of the public gathered for a short commemoration led by Padre Ben Norton, the Yorkshire Regiment chaplain, at the memorial at 11am, when a bugler played the Last Post.

Graham Roberts gives an overview of his research.

Graham Roberts

It was followed by a service of blessing at the nearby West Park United Reformed Church.

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones, North Yorkshire deputy lieutenant Brigadier David Maddan, North Yorkshire Council chief executive Richard Flinton and Harrogate charter mayor councillor Michael Harrison were among those attending.

Today’s service of blessing

Following the service, a free exhibition opened at West Park United Reformed Church to mark the start of the Cenotaph Centenary.

The exhibition, called More than a Name on a Memorial, looks at the lives of those whose names are inscribed on the memorial.

It uses photographs, documents and archive film to tell the stories of those who laid down their lives — the youngest of whom was 15.

The war memorial was unveiled 100 years ago today.

The dead include Lt Donald Bell, the first professional footballer to join the war in 1915, who was awarded the Victoria Cross for “most conspicuous bravery” at the Somme in July 1916. He was killed by a sniper later that month.

The exhibition draws heavily on years of research by Harrogate man and former army reservist Graham Roberts.

Part of the exhibition at West Park United Reformed Church.

The exhibition tells the stories of those who died.

Mr Roberts used the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website and other resources, such as the website Ancestry and local newspaper archives to conduct his research.

Another local historian, Terry-Mike Williams, who founded New Park Heritage Centre, also played a major role in creating the exhibition, which is open from 10am to 4pm on Fridays and Saturdays and from 1pm to 5pm on Sundays until November 12.

Besides the exhibition, the Cenotaph Centenary also includes a series of illustrated talks, many of which are free, and film screenings at the Odeon to mark the war memorial’s 100 years.

Funds raised will help military charities including SSAFA.

War veteran to launch Harrogate war memorial centenary commemorations

A war veteran is set to launch Harrogate war memorial’s centenary commemorations this year.

The 12-week commemorations will begin on September 1 and mark 100 years to the day after the memorial was unveiled in Prospect Square.

World War Two veteran Sheila Pantin, who lives in Harrogate and will celebrate her own 100th birthday in October, will launch the programme.

She won a scholarship to Leeds Girls’ High School aged 11, and went on to become one of the first women in this country to earn her public service vehicle licence.

Sheila joined the army aged just 17 and trained as an ambulance and staff car driver with the Auxiliary Territorial Service, the women’s branch of the British Army, rising to the rank of sergeant.

She was also one of the first British service women to enter a German concentration camp in April 1945.

The Harrogate war memorial.

After being posted abroad in autumn 1944, she was detailed to lead a convoy of about ten three-tonne Bedford lorries across France and Belgium entering into Nazi Germany from Holland.

When she got there she was asked if she wanted to work in the camps.

Reflecting on the time, Sheila said:

“I thought they meant barracks but it turned out they didn’t mean that at all. There was the camp with this huge entrance and an awful lot of huts surrounded by barbed wire fencing.

“We were entering Belsen. I could see our boys digging out mass graves to give the bodies proper burials.

“The only people left alive were in rags and were in a terrible state. They didn’t even know how to eat.”

As part of the war memorial centenary commemoration programme, a series of events will be held including 15 illustrates talked running from September 1 to Remembrance Sunday on November 12.

Meanwhile, to mark the anniversary, the names of 1,163 service men and women who died in the two World Wars and are etched onto the Harrogate memorial will feature in a multimedia exhibition called More than a Name on a Memorial.

Sheila will also give a talk on her experience during the war on Wednesday, September 27.

The exhibition and talks will be held at the West Park United Reformed Church and are free to attend.

More details of the centenary commemorations are available here.

Ripon memorial bench is dedicated to an outstanding Royal Engineer

The name of Major Bill Rudd MBE, a much loved and highly respected Royal Engineer, will live on in Ripon following a dedication and remembrance service during the regiment’s Freedom Weekend.

Veterans, serving soldiers, friends and family gathered in Spa Gardens on Saturday afternoon for the unveiling of a bench installed in his honour.

The installation was made possible with support from the Ripon Commando and Airborne branches of the Royal Engineers Association.

Facing onto the city’s War Memorial, the bench is a fitting tribute to the retired major who died six years ago following a distinguished army career.

This included service with both the 9 Parachute Squadron and 59 Independent Commando Squadron of the Royal Engineers.

Former and serving men and women came from far and wide to attend the dedication and remembrance ceremony led by the Revd Stephen Wilson.

Prior to becoming a commissioned officer, Major Rudd served as the Regimental Sergeant Major of 38 Engineer Regiment based at Claro Barracks.

He maintained his connection with comrades through setting up the Yorkshire Branch of the Airborne Engineers Association with fellow Sappers Dave Edmonds and Charlie Dunk and was made a lifetime vice-president of the association.

Major Rudd lived across the road from Spa Gardens and was a regular visitor to the parkland area, where the Ripon War Memorial is the focal point for annual Remembrance services.

Royal Engineers’ veteran Jim Phillips. who was involved, with his wife Trudie in raising money for the installation of the bench, said:

“Whenever there is a service in Ripon, I am sure Bill’s bench will serve as a meeting place for old comrades to sit, laugh and remember our friend.

“Thanks to all who contributed to this memorial and very special event.”

Our main picture shows members of the Yorkshire Branch of the Airborne Engineers Association who were among those present for the dedication ceremony

Exhibition to honour Harrogate’s 1,163 war dead

A free exhibition will honour the 1,163 men and women whose names are inscribed on Harrogate war memorial.

The exhibition will open in West Park United Reformed Church on September 1, 100 years to the day after the memorial was unveiled in Prospect Square.

It will run until Remembrance Sunday on November 12.

The memorial bears the names of local men and women who lost their lives in two world wars.

Twenty died on the same day; the youngest was just 15 and one person died after being kicked by a mule.

The multi-media exhibition, called More than a name on a Memorial, will bring their stories to life.

The stories will draw heavily on research conducted by local historian and former army reservist Graham Roberts, who has been researching the names for years.

Local resident Terry Williams, who was responsible for a recent exhibition telling the story of Harrogate’s railways, is curating the exhibition, which is being organised by the newly-formed Harrogate War Memorial Project Group.

The group includes members of various local voluntary organisations, including Harrogate Civic Society, the Royal Hall Restoration Trust and Harrogate and District Improvement Trust.

Nigel McClea, chair of the project group, said:

“Thanks to herculean efforts over many years by local historian Graham Roberts, all 1163 names have been researched and much has been discovered and recorded including military units, war records, photographs, cause of death, date of death and place of burial, although more than 300 of the First World War names inscribed have no known grave.

“This on-going research will form the core of the exhibition but thanks to support from North Yorkshire library service, through Harrogate Library, we are now in a position to seek out family stories and memories.”

Walter Ogden

The research has thrown up many fascinating questions. Mr McClea said:

“For example, would 2/Lt Walter Ogden have joined his family firm Ogden of Harrogate, the town’s historic jewellers still to be found on James Street? We’ll never know, he died in 1917 aged just 19 at the Battle of Cambrai.

“2/Lt Donald Bell VC, the first English professional footballer to join the army in World War I, had signed his first professional contract with Second Division Bradford Park Avenue in 1912 aged 22. Would he have ever played for a First Division club? We’ll never know. He died aged 25 in the Battle of the Somme.

“These are just two stories from 1163. We would love to hear from anyone with an ancestor named on the memorial who might have photographs, or recollections of their experiences which might have been passed on through the generations.

“We would also love copies of things such as letters home or letters they received from home, extracts from diaries, battle orders or telegrams and anything about what these brave people did before going to war.”

Copies of letters, extracts from diaries, written recollections and photographs can be emailed to Harrogate.Library@northyorks.gov.uk with the subject line ‘More than a name on a Memorial’ or taken into the library for copying.

Further details of the war memorial centenary programme of events will be available next month.

Council orders deep clean for Ripon War Memorial

North Yorkshire Council is arranging for Ripon’s War Memorial to have a deep clean to rid it of dirt and algae.

Since it was unveiled in October 1921, the memorial in Spa Gardens has been the focal point of the city’s Services of Remembrance, commemorating those who served and died for their country in the conflicts of 1914-1918 and 1939-1945.

Each year hundreds of people, ranging from scouts and guides to former servicemen and women and civic dignitaries, gather in the gardens to pay respect to the fallen.

In recent years, some of the 339 names of Ripon men who died in the two world wars have become obscured by green algae.

This led Ripon City Council to call on the former Harrogate Borough Council to carry out a thorough clean.

City council leader Andrew Williams told the Stray Ferret:

“We raised the issue of the condition of the memorial on at least two separate occasions with officers at Harrogate council and were told 18 months ago that the memorial was on annual spring cleaning programme, but nothing happened.

“I’m pleased to say that we have had an immediate and positive response from the North Yorkshire parks and environmental services team.

“We have been advised that they have inspected the memorial and have instructed a specialist contractor to undertake cleaning in the coming weeks to bring it back up to the standard required.”

Read more:

Service at the war memorial

Road closures

Read more:

Read more:

Read more:

Read more:

Read more:

Read more:

Read more: