Funeral For Serviceman In Holmfirth Today

The funeral of Huddersfield serviceman James Hartley will be held in Holmfirth today.




Corporal James Hartley, 20, from New Mill, Holmfirth, died alongside 4 others from the West Yorkshire region in Afganistan on March 8th.

Victoria Cross   Picture courtesy of MOD

His funeral will take place at Christ Church in New Mill today with a large attendance expected from the local community.

Cpl Hartley served with 3rd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment and at just 20, rose up to his rank quickly.

He has been honoured with the highest military honour, the Victoria Cross.

Flowers laid at cenotaph in Huddersfield

A special memorial service will also be held at Huddersfield Parish Church after the funerals so members of the wider community can pay their respects.

The Vicar of Huddersfield said: "This memorial service is a chance for the town and the wider community to come together, pay their respects and remember this, and the other, young men."

He died in the same armoured vehicle as Private Anthony Frampton, 20, Private Christopher Kershaw, 20, Private Daniel Wade, 20 and Private Daniel Wilford, 21.

It was believed that the Warrior armoured vehicle was hit by a abnormally large IED,causing the biggest single loss of UK life at one time in Afghanistan since a Nimrod crash killed 14 in 2006.