100-year-old Wakefield veteran honoured with bench in Horbury park

The bench was a gift by the Royal British Legion (RBL) and was unveiled during a special ceremony on Thursday (July 16).

Joined by his friends and family, Harry was honoured for his service and his charity work for the RBL – which is Britain’s largest armed forces charity.

Malcolm Patterson, chairman of the Horbury, Sitlington & Ossett Branch of the Royal British Legion, said: “Harry has been a huge supporter of our branch, attending our fundraising events and interacting with members of the public and encouraging younger people to get involved with the RBL, and we just wanted to show our appreciation for everything he has done for us, and for his country, of course.”

Harry was called up to service in 1944 at the age of 18, just three months before D-Day.

Having learnt to drive at the age of 14, he was attached to the Royal Army Service Corps and ferried supplies to the coast in preparation for the Normandy landings, before being sent to Germany at the end of that year. “I was put on a ship at Dover, and I was terrified to tell you the truth, cowering in my life jacket, but we all had to be quiet due to submarine activity in the area.” Harry explained. He was tasked with driving a 20-strong platoon of the Scottish Rifles (Cameronians) across the Elbe River, in Germany.

He later took part in Operation Barleycorn, the break-up of the German armed forces, and helped to evacuate prisoners of war from the notorious Belsen concentration camp. In 1947, Harry was demobbed and returned to Wakefield where he married his late wife Margaret, had three children and launched his own firm, Cross Lane Garage, which he ran until his retirement in 1989. Following his grandson’s recommendation two years ago, Harry got in touch with the Royal British Legion.

They provided him with a new stairlift and adjustable orthopaedic bed that allowed him to remain living independently at home - where he’s been since 1960.

Since then, Harry has spent his time volunteering for the charity, supporting them and encouraging others to get involved.

Speaking on the commemoration, Harry said: “It feels absolutely fantastic and a great honour.

"There's so many wonderful people here who have come to wish me all the best and I want to say thank you.

"I would like to thank everyone involved who have presented me with this, the British Legion do a marvellous job and I try to help them anyway I can.

"But I also want to thank all the volunteers – there’s hundreds of volunteers all over this area and there’d be no organisations without you.”