Former servicemen remember their fallen friends

Jun 20 2009 by Paul Loraine, The Journal

FORMER servicemen met in Newcastle yesterday to remember eight young comrades who were killed in Saudi Arabia.

Eight men who served in the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, six of whom were in their twenties, were killed in an ambush in Aden while dealing with a conflict in the area on June 20, 1967.

Yesterday, their fellow Fusiliers and friends gathered at the cenotaph at the Haymarket in Newcastle city centre to witness an emotional wreath-laying ceremony accompanied by a bugler.

Around 50 men gathered at the monument, maintaining a tradition they have kept for 42 years.

Charles Neasham, 63, of Gosforth, said the ceremony was still extremely emotional despite the passing of time.

“When you think of their ages – the youngest was 18 – it’s an emotional day,” he said. “Today is all about remembering the men who died. We all still think of them.”

The men were killed in an ambush by the Arabian army and Aden police just days before some of the group were set to fly home.

Norman Ward, 77, of Fulwell, Sunderland, who was colour sergeant of his company, said: “We pay our respects every year to the men who died. The men were in my company and it still brings a lump to the throat when I think about it. They were from the North East.”