A local World War II veteran will be honoured with a bench in a Wakefield park.

100-year-old Harry Birdsall, who served with the Royal Army Service Corps, will attend the unveiling of a bench bearing his name at Horbury Memorial Gardens on Thursday (July 16).

The special event will include a short service to dedicate and unveil the bench and a blessing by branch padre Fr. Christopher Johnson.

Wakefield-born Harry was called up in 1944 at the age of 18, just three months before D-Day.

Harry Birdsall with King Charles III at the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

placeholder image — Harry Birdsall with King Charles III at the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

Having learnt to drive at the age of 14, Harry was attached to the Royal Army Service Corps and ferried supplies to the coast in preparation for the Normandy landings, before being sent to Germany at the end of that year.

In 1947, Harry was demobbed and returned to Wakefield where he married his late wife Margaret, had three children and launched his own firm, Cross Lane Garage, which he ran until his retirement in 1989.

Since then, Harry has supported and encouraged younger people to get involved with the Royal British Legion – the UK’s largest Armed Forces charity.

Two years ago, the charity supported Harry by taking him back to Normandy to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day, where he met with King Charles III.

Harry Birdsall was called up to serve in the Royal Army Service Corps in 1944.

Now, they are celebrating his lifelong support and his service with a commemorative bench. Harry said: “I’m just a lad from Wakefield, but I am overwhelmed by the support I get from the people of the town, and this bench is such tremendous honour, I am very proud indeed.

"I’d like to thank everyone at the Royal British Legion who’ve made this possible.”