Armistice Day to be marked in Leeds
Armistice Day is being marked throughout Leeds today, with a public service being held in Victoria Gardens.
Armistice Day is being marked throughout Leeds today, with a public service being held in Victoria Gardens.
Lord Mayor of Leeds Councillor Gerry Harper will lay a wreath on the Leeds Pals Memorial at 11 o’clock, in recognition of those who lost their lives in the Battle of the Somme. Ahead of the event, a poppy themed garden bench has been installed at the site.
A traditional procession is also planned for Remembrance Sunday, which will leave Leeds Civic Hall at 10:50am and finish at Victoria Gardens where a number of tributes will be paid.
Speaking ahead of the ceremony’s, Gerry Harper said “The huge sacrifices which have been made by so many of our armed forces men and women in times of conflict should never be forgotten, and Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday are both occasions where as a city, we can come together and reflect.”
Simon Brown was a corporal in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, he lost his left eye and most of the vision in his right eye in 2006 when hit by a sniper during a rescue mission for six colleagues.
Simon will be marching through Leeds on Sunday with his colleague Warren, who also suffered life changing injuries, for the first time since the accident.
“I’ll be focusing on being there with my friend, my colleague, who was instrumental in saving my life and remembering the colleagues that I served with, who are no longer with us.” Simon Brown told Radio Aire.