A service of commemoration to mark soldiers from Northamptonshire who died in the Korean War will be held in Northampton next month.
The 60th anniversary of the armistice of the war will be marked on Sunday June 23 with a service in Abington Square, Northampton, from 2pm.
Eight soldiers from the county lost their lives in the conflict - Trooper Cyril Adams (Wellingborough), Lance Corporal Peter Garwood (Northampton), Fusilier Alan Mills (Moulton), Corporal Montague Ritterband (Northampton), Private Roy Rose (Brixworth), Lieutenant John Sharp (Wellingborough), Sergeant Sidney Streather (Kettering) and Signalman Warren Smith (Flore) were among those who lost their lives.
A memorial to all those who have died in wars from Northampton since 1945 will also be unveiled at the service. The Mayor of Northampton, councillors, veterans and serving personnel will be attending.
To allow for the service to take place there will be temporary road closures between 1pm and 4pm on Wellingborough Road (between York Road and St Edmunds Street) and Kettering Road (between the Lower Mounts and St Michael’s Road).
Councillor David Mackintosh, leader of Northampton Borough Council, said: “It is important that we as a community take the time to remember those who gave their lives to serve our country during the Korean War. This year is the 60th anniversary of the end of the Korean War and it is only right that we should commemorate the occasion and honour those who died. I hope members of the public will join us as we pay tribute to their memory.”
Tony Wade, chairman of the Royal British Legion Northampton Branch, said: “The United Kingdom and her allies have fought in many so called ‘small wars’ since the ending of WWII in the pursuit of freedom and peace, even to this day our troops are committed to policing troubled areas of the world costing the lives of many of our service personnel. The freedom we enjoy today here in the British Isles is due to the sacrifice these brave men and women gave and are still giving. We owe it to them to never forget. ‘at the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them’.”
Anyone wanting more information about the arrangements for the memorial service is asked to contact Northampton Borough Council’s events team on 01604 837720.