KIRKBY Lonsdale is honouring the memory of its veterans with a series of guided walks fundraisers.

During summer Tess Pike of Blue Badge Tourist Guide, invited residents to join a series of socially distanced guided walks to raise money for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, and to mark the 100th anniversary of the Unknown Warrior.

The guided walks take place in St Mary’s Churchyard in Kirkby Lonsdale and highlight World War One stories; including those of the town’s most decorated serviceman, Brigadier General Louis John Wyatt – the man who selected the body of the Unknown Warrior 100 years ago.

Tess Pike said: “The story of Brigadier General Wyatt is a subject which has fascinated me for over 20 years - ever since I first heard about his connection with the Unknown Warrior from George Harrison, a former Merchant Navy seaman who is now in his 90s, but used to lead guided walks around Kirkby Lonsdale.

“He told me how, when he used to come home on leave, he would go to visit the Brigadier, who would regale him with tales of his experiences at the ‘Battle of Andaman’, amongst others.

“Being very aware that this November will be the 100th anniversary of the Brigadier’s role in the story of the Unknown Warrior, I used lockdown time to research the stories not just of General Wyatt, but those of several of Kirkby Lonsdale’s men who went off to war, and developed them into a World War I themed walk around the town’s churchyard, which I designed to be of interest to a general audience as opposed to those with a specific interest in military history.”

“I was keen to aid the work of a forces charity, and the more contact that I have with the SSAFA Cumbria branch, the more I realise the breadth of help available to the families of serving soldiers, sailors and airmen. I hoped that offering the walks would help to raise awareness of SSAFA in the local area.”

Deputy Chairman for KLTC and Town Councillor Allan Muirhead said: “My own view is that we must ensure that those who gave their lives in conflicts are remembered.

“They are not just names on a memorial - they were from this community and left local families to fight an enemy. Remembrance this year will be done differently, and this initiative shows that we, as a town, will not forget the sacrifice of our forebears."