The region remembers its war dead

Poppies at the cenotaph in Middlesbrough, laid by school children

Remembrance services are taking place across the region to mark the lives of those who have died serving their country.

Wreath laying ceremonies will be held at cenotaphs throughout Teesside, North Yorkshire and County Durham.

A two minutes silence will then be observed at 11 o'clock on Sunday.

The commemorations will be particularly poignant for families and friends who have lost loved ones in recent conflicts.

Regional remembrance day services

These servicemen from our region died while on duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Rifleman Daniel Wild, Easington. Died Helmand, Afghanistan 13 August 2009

Daniel Wild died while trying to rescue another soldier

19-year-old Daniel Wild died trying to carry an injured comrade to safety.

He and Captain Mark Hale went to the aid of Lance Bombardier Matthew Hatton, who had been hit by a blast.

The pair were caught in a second blast and Rifleman Wild died at the scene.

Lt Col Rob Thomson MBE, of the Rifles Battlegroup, described him as a "fearless" soldier.

Corporal Damian Lawrence, Whitby. Died Helmand, Afghanistan 17 February 2008

Corporal Damian Lawrence was killed by a land mine

Corporal Damian Lawrence died whilst on patrol in Helmand after stepping on a landmine.

Colleagues described the 25-year-old as "a great comrade, trusted friend and accomplished soldier".

His mother, Alison Lawrence, described Corporal Lawrence as "a very special son", whose death had left her "very proud and heartbroken".

He left behind his behind his partner, Eve, and daughter, Jessica.

Sergeant Lee Johnson, Stockton. Died Helmand, Afghanistan 08 December 2007

Sergeant Lee Johnson "loved his job"

Sergeant Lee Johnson was killed during an assault on a Taleban stronghold near Musa Qala when an explosion hit his vehicle.

The 33-year-old was engaged to marry his fiance Lisa, and had a son, Ashley, and a daughter, Lily Rose.

At the time Lisa said: "He was a soldier first and a father and fiance second.

"He loved his job, it's all he talked about. I didn't mind though, it's part of the reason I loved him. "

Corporal Kris O'Neill, Catterick. Died Basra, Iraq 5 April 2007

Corporal Kris O'Neill was killed by a roadside bomb

Corporal Kris O'Neill served with the Royal Army Medical Corps. He was one of four soldiers killed in a roadside bomb blast near Basra.

The father of two was described by the MOD as an "experienced and confident medic, with an unflappable nature."

His squadron commander, Major Phil Carter, said: "I could always depend on Corporal O'Neill."

Another Catterick based soldier, Private Eleanor Dlugosz, also died in the blast.

Rifleman Aaron Lincoln, Durham. Died Basra, Iraq, 2 April 2007

Rifleman Aaron Lincoln was fatally wounded when his patrol was attacked

18-year-old Aaron Lincoln was wounded when his patrol came under attack in the al-Asher district of Basra.

He was flown by helicopter to a field hospital at Basra Air Station but died later of his injuries.

At the time Rifleman Lincoln's uncle, Arthur Lincoln, said his nephew left school aged 17 and went straight into the Army.

"He lived for the Army, it's all he wanted to do all his life.

"We are all proud of him." he said.

Private Mark Dobson, Darlington. Died Basra, Iraq 28 March 2005

Private Mark Dobson wrote of the "evil world" in a suicide note

Territorial Army soldier Mark Dobson killed himself because of the "evil world" he saw whilst serving in Iraq, an inquest was told.

The 41-year-old was found hanging from his rifle strap in his room at Basra Air Station.

An inquest in Oxford heard how he had written a suicide not to his parents Jean and Arthur, in which he referred to "this evil world".

Mrs Dobson, 65, said her son's death had come out of the blue.

She said: "He loved his job, he was really looking forward to going to Iraq.

"He said it was what he had been trained for."

Warrant Officer Colin Wall, Crawleyside, Stanhope. Died Basra, Iraq 23 August 2003

Redcap Colin Wall died in Basra in 2003

Redcap Colin Wall was killed when a group of men in a truck pulled up beside the vehicle he was in and opened fire.

The son he had with his wife Trish was 11-months-old at the time of his death. WO Wall also had two children from a previous marriage.

Two other Catterick based military policemen, Major Matthew Titchiner and Corporal Dewi Pritchard, also died in the attack.

Lance Corporal Benjamin Hyde, Northallerton. Died Maysan, Iraq 24 June 2003

Lance Corporal Ben Hyde was killed during an ambush on a police station

Military policeman Ben Hyde was one of six redcaps killed during an ambush in Al Majar al-Kabir.

The bodies of the soldiers were found at a police station where they had been training local officers.

His father John Hyde said:

"The red beret was all he ever wanted.

"It was his life.

"All he ever wanted to become was a military policeman and he worked very hard to become one.

The 23-year-old's family have set up the Ben Hyde Memorial trust and have given their views on the conflict to the Iraq Inquiry Committee.

Corporal John Gregory, Catterick. Died Kabul, Afghanistan 17 August 2002

Corporal John Gregory died in Afghanistan in 2002

Corporal John Gregory fired an SA80 rifle up to 10 times at Sergeant Robert Busuttil, 30, from Swansea, at a barbeque in Afghanistan. The 30-year-old then killed himself.

Wiltshire coroner David Masters called on the Army to tighten its rules on alcohol and gun safety.

Corporal Gregory's widow Annette blamed his actions on anti-malaria drugs which she believed had affected his mood.

She said: "What happened just wasn't John. He would never do anything so completely rash and irresponsible.

"I think the anti-malaria tablets could have been a factor here - there is no other way to explain it."