Halifax set for lasting memorial to the Dukes

A lasting tribute to the Duke of Wellington’s regiment will be installed in Halifax town centre next year.

The monument is being produced by world-class sculptor Andrew Sinclair and will be installed in Woolshops next May.

“It’s a fantastic idea and we’ve hit on a superb sculptor,” says Michael Bray.

“We drew up a shortlist of 10, and we really liked Andrew’s ideas and the sketches

he showed us.

“The more we see the more we think it’s going to be fantastic.

“There are countless memorials but they are nearly always one man, but I’ve never seen anything like this - a 15ft high bronze statue depicting many figures.

“It’s going to be spectacular.

“What we want is that people who walk by will stop and look at it, and their children may say ‘wow mum, what’s that about?’ And we think that will be the case.

“It was enormously sad when the name went. Although we have a legacy with the

Yorkshire Regiment, it’s not the same.

“All of us who served in the Dukes have an enormous amount of affection for it.

“It was an enormous emotional tragedy when it disappeared from the Army.

“So some of us thought there should be something visible in the place we are most associated with, and I’m satisfied it’s going to be successful.

“We are giving this statue to the people of Halifax, and we think it will be in the

public eye far more effectively than a book on a shelf.”

If you would like to share your story of the Dukes with us, [email protected] with your details.

For more information on the memorial appeal, call 01980 611211, email [email protected] or visit wwwmemorial.dwr.org.uk. To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/dukeofwellingtonsregiment.