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Memorial unveiled to Bradford soldier Martin Bell | Memorial unveiled to Bradford soldier Martin Bell |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A memorial has been unveiled in West Yorkshire to a paratrooper and former police community support officer (PCSO) who died in Afghanistan. | A memorial has been unveiled in West Yorkshire to a paratrooper and former police community support officer (PCSO) who died in Afghanistan. |
Pte Martin Bell, 24, from Bradford, was killed in an explosion in January 2011 while going to the aid of a wounded friend and saving his life. | Pte Martin Bell, 24, from Bradford, was killed in an explosion in January 2011 while going to the aid of a wounded friend and saving his life. |
He served as a PCSO for West Yorkshire Police before joining the Army. | He served as a PCSO for West Yorkshire Police before joining the Army. |
A stone plaque has been erected at the police contact point in Haworth where Pte Bell patrolled. | A stone plaque has been erected at the police contact point in Haworth where Pte Bell patrolled. |
The paratrooper was on his first tour in Afghanistan, serving with the 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment. | The paratrooper was on his first tour in Afghanistan, serving with the 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment. |
Before he was killed by an improvised explosive device (IED), Pte Bell ignored an order not to move from his position to reach his wounded friend and applied a tourniquet to stem the blood flow. | Before he was killed by an improvised explosive device (IED), Pte Bell ignored an order not to move from his position to reach his wounded friend and applied a tourniquet to stem the blood flow. |
He was awarded a posthumous George Medal for his actions. | He was awarded a posthumous George Medal for his actions. |
'Great honour' | |
The plaque, which was provided free by local craftsmen, was unveiled by Pte Bell's mother, Elaine Bell. | |
Mrs Bell said the unveiling, held a year to the day since Pte Bell's death in Afghanistan, was "very moving". | |
"It is a great honour for Martin. We think about him every day and he was a fantastic character," she said. | |
Dignitaries including West Yorkshire Police chief constable Sir Norman Bettison, Bradford councillors and members of the Parachute Regiment, also attended the ceremony. | |
Sir Norman said it was "fantastic" that Haworth residents would have a permanent reminder of Pte Bell's bravery as a soldier and his compassion as a PCSO. | |
"As a PCSO, Martin worked in the heart of the local community in the Worth Valley so it is appropriate such a fitting memorial has been created in Martin's name at one of the contact points we use to provide truly local policing," Sir Norman said. | "As a PCSO, Martin worked in the heart of the local community in the Worth Valley so it is appropriate such a fitting memorial has been created in Martin's name at one of the contact points we use to provide truly local policing," Sir Norman said. |
"It is heart-warming to see so many individuals, not least the talented craftsmen who created this plaque, come together to give their effort and time to remember Martin this way." |