Video: Homes named after young hero soldier

Maggie Kirkness, the mother of Lance Corporal David Kirkness, 24, who was killed by a suicide bomber in 2009, cut a ribbon and unveiled a plaque at Kirkness Court in Morley, Leeds.

She said it was “an honour” which should be copied by other towns and cities who have lost servicemen.

“I can’t thank everybody enough; they have done everything for David in Morley. Every town and every city should do something to remember these lads. I can walk past it every day and it will be here when I am gone.”

She said her son would have “absolutely loved it”.

L/Cpl Kirkness’s younger brother Christopher, who hopes to follow him into 3 Rifles, echoed his mother’s comments, saying: “I think every town should do the same to remember these lads.”

Christopher, who is 16 in May, said his brother’s death had made him more determined to join up but added: “It’s not about aggression and to get payback, it’s not.”

Army chief Major-General David Shaw, who also attended yesterday’s ceremony, said: “It’s terrific that councillors and contractors have put David Kirkness into this wonderful estate, it will perpetuate his name. All this bonds our community to our soldiers at a time when the support from the public is very strong indeed.”

The idea to name the development came from Morley councillor Terry Grayshon, who said: “To the best of my knowledge it is the first time that any road and development has been named in memory of one of our members of the Armed Forces who have fallen in Afghanistan.”