News
June 12th 2013
Drumhead service will mark 60 years since end of Korean War
More than 100 representatives of the Armed Forces, both serving and retired, along with members of the Cadet forces will gather in Northampton on Sunday 23 June to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the armistice of the Korean War.
Northampton Borough Council, the Royal British Legion and the Korean Veterans’ Association will hold a static parade and drumhead service, when the standards of at least 10 military units will be draped over drums piled to create an altar for a service of commemoration and dedication.
The drumhead service will take place at 2pm on June 23 in the Memorial Garden at Abington Square. During the service, a memorial will be unveiled to all those from Northampton who have died in wars since 1945.
Almost 100,000 British soldiers served in the Korean War and 1,078 lost their lives, including eight men from Northamptonshire: 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).
Wellingborough Road between York Road and St Edmunds Street and Kettering Road between the Lower Mounts and St Michael’s Road will be closed between 1pm and 4pm on June 23 to allow the service to take place.
The service will be attended by the Mayor of Northampton, Cllr Les Marriott, and the Leader of Northampton Borough Council, Cllr David Mackintosh.
Cllr Mackintosh said: “The sacrifices made by service men and women and their families over the years have helped to shape the country we live in today. It is now 60 years since the end of the Korean War and it is important that we mark this date will a civic ceremony to honour the veterans and their families.”
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 end of World War II 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.”
