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Cadet’s salute to world war heroes

Jo Rostron
17/11/2006

A TEENAGE army cadet made an emotional visit to France and Belgium to pay his own respects to the war dead as the nation came to a halt for Remembrance.

Corporal Christopher Barry of the Crumpsall detachment of the Army cadet force was one of 50 cadets from Greater Manchester to make the trip across the Channel.

The group paraded at the Menin Gate And through the city of Valencienne and visited the Somme, the Thiepval memorial for the missing and Tyne Cot Cemetery - the biggest Commonwealth war cemetery in the world.

Christopher, 17, from Cleveland Avenue, said: "It was an honour to represent Manchester and the country. It reminds you of the sacrifices ordinary people made in appalling conditions so that we can have the freedom we do today.

"It's been an experience of a lifetime and I hop more young people take an interest in what a rich and proud heritage we have.

"I will never forget the time I had there."

Christopher's proud mum Christine added: "It's fantastic that he's done something so worthwhile with his time when he could just be hanging around the streets.

"I'd like to thank Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force for making all this possible for him."

The Crumpsall detachment of the cadet force is based behind Halfway house on Middleton Road. The squadron meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 7 and 9pm and is made up of people aged 12 to 18.

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