Wreath laying for D-Day at Market Drayton war memorial
One of the last surviving veterans of D-Day laid a wreath in memory of his comrades during a service at a town's war memorial.
Market Drayton resident Gerald Norris, who served in the 73rd Anti-Tank Regiment Royal Artillery, and who landed in the first wave at Gold Beach on D-Day, laid the wreath at the town's war memorial yesterday.
The event also paid tribute to those who were killed and injured when Argentine planes attacked the ship RFA Sir Galahad during the Falklands conflict on June 8, 1982. Fifty men were killed, including 39 Welsh Guards, and 55 men were seriously wounded, many with severe burns.
Two of those injured men attended yesterday's ceremony, accompanied by representatives of the Royal Irish Rangers from Tern Hill, the Staffordshire Regiment, The Royal Welch Fusilliers, The Royal Air Force Association, the Royal Naval Association, Market Drayton Town Council and the Market Drayton Royal British Legion.
The KSLI made the biggest advance during the D-Day landings.
Ten wreaths were laid in total, including one by the King's Shropshire Light Infantry Veterans Association.
A bugler from the Royal Irish Regiment played the Last Post and Reveille. A lament was played by the Pipe Major from the 1st Battallion the Royal Irish Regiment. Prayers and blessings were led by the Rev Martin Tanner, chaplain of the RBL.
