Moving tributes were paid to heroes claimed by war as veterans gathered at a Bradford church for a poignant service to their patron saint.

Former soldiers from the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Association (REME) gathered at the Salvation Army Citadel in Holroyd Hill, Wibsey, for a thanksgiving service yesterday.

More than 100 people - ex-servicemen, serving officers, cadets and their families from across West and North Yorkshire - gathered for the St Eligius day service, held annually on the first weekend in December.

Eleven veterans, wearing uniform and bearing standards from the service corps associations, flanked the church as decorated war heroes sang hymns and joined a prayer for peace.

Bradford's Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Elaine Byrom, and David Dinmore, the Deputy Lord Lieutenant for West Yorkshire, were among the civic dignitaries who attended the ceremony.

They bowed their heads and listened in silence as Brigadier John Chuter OBE, a member of the association, recited the Kohima bidding and the association priest, John Ineson gave The Absolution.

Association secretary Jim Windle, of Saxton Avenue, Wibsey, said he had been "honoured" to have attended the service, which provides an important link between past servicemen and those still serving in war zones in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Mr Windle, 69, said: "We have associations from all over the northern area here and we have a lot of support from serving units as well. Remembrance services such as this one keep them in the public eye. There are still troops giving their lives for this country and they should not be forgotten."

Chairman Matthew Hall, 86, from Idle, served in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers for 25 years in Cyprus, Malaya, Singapore and Germany.

Mr Hall, an ex-warrant officer, said: "We are all ex-servicemen and we have all done our bit. It is important for us to keep up the support of comradeship and friendship that you get in the Army."

Young members of the 10 Field Squadron Royal Engineers travelled from their base at RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire to join the veterans at the event.

Soldier Jack Wilkinson, 20, a member of the squadron, is originally from Bradford but now lives in Tadcaster, near York. He said: "All these soldiers have made the sacrifice for us and it is only right that we do the same by showing our support for them."

e-mail: marc.meneaud@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

  • Start or join a debate on this issue in our online forum - Click here