A parade was held through Huddersfield in June 1897 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee To the rear of the parade were a number of veterans from the Indian Mutiny and the Crimean War, some of whom appeared to have fallen on hard times.
Among the celebrities on the saluting base in the Market Place was Major Welsh. He decided that the people of Huddersfield owed these Veterans a debt, and that they should be looked after in their retirement. Thus the Huddersfield & District Army Veterans’ Association was formed in the autumn of 1897. Forty four Veterans became members.
Over the 100 plus years since its inauguration, the Association has served the needs of Veterans from the two World Wars. In the future we will look to recruit from National Service Personnel and volunteer members of the Armed Forces who have served since 1945.
Today the Association has 70 members, of whom 50 took part in the Centenary parade held on Sunday, 15th June 1997, followed by a service in Huddersfield Parish Church to celebrate the occasion.
Now, in the 21st Century, the threats to peace are different. Members of our Armed Forces are likely to be called to serve in conflicts and peace keeping missions anywhere in the world. The Association’s main objective, that of providing a dedicated welfare function for ex-service people, will therefore remain paramount for the foreseeable future.
The camaraderie which exists among the present members remains as strong as ever. It is envisaged that this lifetime bonding of ex-service personnel will flourish within this unique Association for generations to come.
If you would like to share in this camaraderie, and you have the necessary qualifications, we shall be delighted to hear from you.