Final set of street signs installed in Norfolk in honour of fallen soldiers
Whiteside Mews, named after Trooper Christopher Whiteside - Credit: Archant
Seven Norfolk soldiers who died fighting in Afghanistan will be forever remembered in the village they called home.
This map illustrates each road on the new development that has been named after the soldiers who died while on duty in Afghanistan. - Credit: Archant
The final set of street signs honouring the men have been installed at the Hopkins Homes Meadow View development at Swanton Morley, near Dereham.
Corps Welfare Warrant Officer, Stewart Blakey helping construction teams install a road sign in honour of Lance Corporal Richard Brandon - Credit: Archant
Members of The Light Dragoons and The Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers helped erect the signs named in honour of Craftsman Anthony Lombardi, L/Cpl Richard Brandon and Trooper Christopher Whiteside, on Monday.
Lombardi Mews, named after Craftsman Anthony Lombardi - Credit: Archant
The addition of the signs for Lombardi Mews, Brandon Close and Whiteside Mews means the development is now home to a total of six streets and one open space named after soldiers killed in Afghanistan.
Signs for Dennis Close, Lawrence Way, Moffett Road, named after L/Cpl David Dennis, Tpr Phillip Lawrence and L/Cpl Nigel Moffett had already been installed along with Davidson Park, an open space, named after Sgt Lee Davidson.
All seven were serving with the Light Dragoons, who were based at Swanton Morley until 2015 when the regiment relocated to Catterick, Yorkshire. Sgt Bradley Rix, of The Light Dragoons, said the tribute was very important to the regiment and the families of the soldiers.
'I knew them all personally but there's three in particular that I was very close with, two of them I carried their coffins onto the planes in Afghanistan and one of them I still remain very close to his family now. In Doncaster I arrange a football match every year in memory of Lee Davidson so I'm very proud that they are putting these signs up in their names,' he said.
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Sgt Rix added: 'I think they'd be very honoured and proud that it's happened and their names live on in the community,'
Corps Welfare Warrant Officer, Stewart Blakey of The Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, said: 'The soldiers were based here and this is kind of bringing them home. This is always the place where their sons were, so it is very important. The families are very thankful.'
He added that these tributes act as a reminder of the attachment between the soldiers and the local community.
Swanton Morley Parish Council will host a ceremony for the opening of Davidson Park later in the year.
