A POIGNANT military parade will be held through the historic streets of Durham, marking the 100th anniversary of the first Armistice Day.

Pipers and drummers from the Royal Dragoon Guards will take part in the Remembrance Sunday parade from Durham Cathedral on November 10 to honour those killed in battle since the First World War.

It is now a century since the first services were held a year after the guns fell silent on the Western Front to remember those who had made the ultimate sacrifice.

Warrant Officer Kev Hamilton-Sturdy, of the RAF’s 607 County Durham Squadron, helped launch the parade at the cathedral on Wednesday.

He said: “We would not be the country we are if it had not been for the servicemen who fought against tyranny to give us the freedoms we enjoy now.

“It is right and proper that we remember the people, the ordinary men and women, who did extraordinary things to make that happen.”

The parade will step-off shortly after 11.30am and will march through the Market Place where the salute will be taken by the Lord Lieutenant for County Durham Sue Snowdon, Mayor of Durham, Councillor Katie Corrigan and Air Vice-Marshal Warren James CBE.

Leading this year’s parade will be ‘D’ Company 8th Battalion the Rifles, successors to the Durham Light Infantry, with the renowned Band and Bugles of Durham Army Cadet Force.

The ‘Heavy Drill’ elements will be led by the Pipes and Drums of the Royal Dragoon Guards, and the civilian services will be led by Durham Constabulary Brass Band and Durham University Brass Band.

Fire Service Standard Bearers from every corner of the country will descend on Durham to make the city’s parade a national focus for the fire and rescue service.

Volunteer organiser Arthur Lockyear over 400 members of the armed forces and veterans would be taking part.

He said: “I feel it is so important for all of us to join in the two-minute silence to remember those who lost their lives, or fought, or suffered in the cause of freedom and justice.

“How we give witness to Remembrance defines us as individuals and as a society.

“We must never relinquish the debt of honour we owe.”