The Rifles given place of honour in Hereford's St Peter's Square (From Hereford Times)

The Rifles given place of honour in Hereford's St Peter's Square

8:00am Friday 25th June 2010 in News

THE Rifles will be permanently remembered in Hereford after the regiment’s emblem was engraved onto a war memorial.

The monument in St Peter’s Square has stood since 1922 and has become synonymous with the memory of Herefordshire’s fallen heroes.

The inclusion of The Rifles badge will, in particular, remember the lives of Serjeant Paul McAleese, Rifleman William Aldridge and Lance Corporal Daniel Cooper, who all died in the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan.

Herefordshire Council has formally applied for permission to cut the regiment’s insignia into the face of the stonework.

County colonel of The Rifles, Major James Hereford, said it is customary to put county regiments onto the war memorial.

“And as The Rifles are the successor to the Herefordshire Light Infantry, it seemed appropriate that the badge should be engraved into it,” he said.

A parade and service to mark the engraving is due to take place at the memorial next month. It will be attended by members of The Rifles, the Royal British Legion, Army Cadets and the Lord Lieutenant of Herefordshire, the Countess of Darnley. Family members of Sjt McAleese, Rfn Aldridge and L-Cpl Cooper will also be invited.