Tribute to war heroes to be unveiled

A new footbridge in Whitby will be dedicated to Corporal Damian Lawrence and Craftsman Andrew Found, who were both from the North Yorkshire port.

The footbridge, which links the town’s West Pier with its new extension, will be named the Whitby Memorial Bridge and the dedication ceremony will take place at 2pm today. It is due to be attended by the families of both Corporal Lawrence and Craftsman Found, as well as the Mayor of the Borough of Scarborough, Coun Helen Mallory, members of the Whitby Harbour Board and the Mayor of Whitby, Coun John Freeman.

Scarborough Borough Council’s cabinet member responsible for harbours, Coun Mike Cockerill, said: “It will be a fitting tribute to the two local soldiers who lost their lives fighting for this country and a reminder of their ultimate sacrifice. I feel honoured that Scarborough Borough Council has been able to facilitate this for the families of the two men and the wider Whitby community.”

Corporal Damian Lawrence, 25, of the 2nd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, was injured by a bomb blast while on a patrol in Afghanistan on February 17, 2008. He and another soldier were evacuated to Camp Bastion by helicopter but Cpl Lawrence, who was born in Scarborough and raised in Whitby, was dead on arrival. Craftsman Andrew Found, 27, who was from Whitby and nicknamed “Foundy”, was from the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and served with the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers and Greys). He was killed in an explosion on June 16 last year in Helmand Province.

Work to install the Whitby Memorial Bridge began in June and was completed last month. A temporary structure had been put in place after the old footbridge, thought to have been built in the 1940s, was closed last September following safety concerns.

email [email protected]