Ex-soldier delighted to be playing key role on Remembrance Sunday in Scunthorpe

A former soldier who was almost blown up by a grenade will be taking pride of place in this year's Remembrance Sunday commemorations.

Alf Hemming's father, Richard Hemmings, also served and died in World War Two and Mr Hemmings never got to meet him.

Mr Hemmings, 70, from Bottesford, served in Aden in Yemen during 1966/67 during the insurgency against the British forces then stationed there.

He is now a standard-bearer for the Scunthorpe branch of the Royal British Legion and his duties include carrying the flag at the different events.

He said: "I feel really proud.

"When we parade in Scunthorpe, I'm at the front of the standard bearers. I will be doing it again this year as part of the Scunthorpe Royal British Legion's annual Remembrance parade."

The stay in Aden was part of a nine-month tour with the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers.

He was on duty when he was injured during riots after a grenade was thrown at the unit he was serving in.

He said: "It was a terrifying experience and we were in the middle of it all.

"People were throwing grenades and anything they had.

"I was driving a news reporter from Tyne Tees and we got ambushed.

"We got ambushed there from the cemetery to the main road."

Mr Hemmings suffered a leg injury and he had to be taken to hospital as a result of the grenade.

From there, he was taken to Bahrain, then to Cyprus and finally to Tidmouth in the UK, where they tried to remove the shrapnel during two operations.

It was only 15 years later at Scunthorpe General Hospital that he finally had the remainder of the shrapnel removed.

Mr Hemmings said he only discovered the real reason behind how his father was killed five years ago, when he and his brother discovered some documents.

He said: "All my life, I never knew my dad.

"I always thought he was in the Durham Light Infantry and I thought he was captured and killed in Burma.

"I got his Army number and I contacted the local Royal British Legion."

This is when Mr Hemmings found out his father Richard was killed in action on April 4, 1943.

His body is currently at a cemetery in Krakow.

REMEMBRANCE DAY PARADES

The Royal British Legion will lead Brigg Town Council and ex-service personnel in a parade at 10.25am from Station Road, Brigg, to St John the Evangelist Church on Sunday, November 11.

The service will start at 11am.

Following the service, the parade will go to the war memorial for a wreath-laying ceremony and a further act of remembrance.

Scunthorpe Royal British Legion has organised a Remembrance Sunday service. A parade will leave the Baths Hall on Sunday at 10.25am which will go over to the war memorial on Oswald Road. The service there will start by 10.55am and it will last about 30 minutes.

The parade will march back to the Baths and afterwards a buffet will be held at the Cons Club for the organisers.

A remembrance service will be taking place at Goxhill Airfield Memorial on Sunday, November 11 from 2pm.

A Remembrance Sunday parade and two services will take place on Sunday, November 11. The parade will assemble with standards at the Salvation Army citadel on Queen Street, ready to depart at 10.30am.

A service will be held at St Mary’s Church in Burgate at 11.30am.

A service will also be held at the Salvation Army citadel at 6pm.