Families remember fallen soldiers

The families of the two soldiers from North East Lincolnshire who were killed in Afghanistan last week have laid wreaths to mark Remembrance Sunday.

Sergeant Matthew Telford, 37, from Grimsby, and Guardsman Jimmy Major, 18, from Cleethorpes, were killed in Helmand province on Tuesday.

Six hundred crosses were laid at the cenotaph in Grimsby where Sgt Telford's widow Kerry laid a wreath.

The family of Guardsman Major also paid tribute in their home town.

'So proud'

Guardsman Major's grandfather, Harry Gilliatt, said of his grandson: "Jimmy loved the army, loved the regiment.

"He couldn't wait to go [to Afghanistan]. He certainly made everybody, his friends, his family and everybody so proud of him.

"They've just taken one thing away, we just can't pat him on the back when he comes home."

Speaking after the service a friend of Guardsman Major said: "He was an amazing friend, he will never be forgotten."

Reverend Paul Hunter, of St Peters Church in Cleethorpes, described "a really unique remembrance day for this community, with the coming together of all the different people who had known Jimmy".

He added that his church had been full with people standing outside during the service.

In Grimsby hundreds watched as Mrs Telford kissed the wreath for her husband before placing it on the war memorial. Their children were not at the service.

Speaking at the service the Royal British Legion said attendance in Grimsby was up by 25% on previous years as the town came to terms with the loss of two local soldiers.

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