Northumberland war veterans honoured at Armed Forces Week ceremony

Brave Second World War veterans from Northumberland have been honoured at an Armed Forces Week ceremony.
The ceremony at County Hall, Morpeth.The ceremony at County Hall, Morpeth.
The ceremony at County Hall, Morpeth.

The local veterans, who have all been awarded the Légion d’Honneur for their courageous acts during D-Day and the wider campaigns to liberate France from the Nazis, were honoured at the service at County Hall, in Morpeth. Coun Alan Sambrook, Civic Head of Northumberland County Council, paid tribute to the Armed Forces and raised the Armed Forces Flag.

Veterans Frank Hemmings, from Prudhoe; Robert Harris, from Widdrington; George Henry Brewis, from Alnwick; Robert Fenwick, from Seghill; Frederick Thomas Jewett, from Heddon-on-the-Wall; Joseph Riley, from West Sleekburn; George Skipper of Whitley Bay, formerly Amble; and late veterans Rosslyn Fairfax Huxley Cowen, from Alnwick; Arthur Vincent Looker, from Berwick-upon-Tweed; and John Taylor from Broomhill, were all honoured at the ceremony for the selfless acts of heroism.

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Mr Jewett, 93, who served in the Royal Navy between 1939 and 1947, Mr Fenwick, 92, who served in the British Army from 1942 to 1948 and Mr Skipper, 94, who also served in the British Army between 1941 and 1947, attended the ceremony.

Coun Dave Ledger, Deputy Leader of Northumberland County Council and Armed Forces Champion, said: "We’re extremely proud to have the opportunity to honour those that have dedicated and sacrificed so much as service personnel.

"We have a long standing commitment to the Armed Forces community in Northumberland and I’m delighted that we were joined by past and current serving service personnel so that we can thank them for everything that they have done, and continue to do for our communities."

Armed Forces Day takes place tomorrow. It is a chance to show support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community including currently serving troops, reservists, service families, veterans and cadets.