Todmorden soldier's sacrifice is honoured
THE family of a soldier who was killed while serving in Korea in the 1950s have been awarded with a medal in recognition of their loss.
Nancy Rix, from Todmorden, was presented with the Elizabeth Cross in recognition of the loss of her husband, Lance Corporal George Yapp, who was killed in Korea in 1951.
The Elizabeth Cross is awarded to the next of kin of UK Armed Forces personnel who have died on operations, or as a result of an act of terrorism, in recognition of their loss and sacrifice.
The Elizabeth Cross was presented by Dr Ingrid Roscoe Her Majesty's Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire at a private ceremony held at Carlton Barracks in Leeds.
Lance Corporal Yapp, who was born on August 6, 1929, joined the British Army on 15th March 1945, initially into the General Service Corps before transferring to the Durham Light Infantry in May 1945 and again to the King's Shropshire Light Infantry in June 1949.
In August 1949 his Battalion was deployed to Hong Kong as part of the Far East Land Forces, before embarking for Korea in early 1951.
On May 20, 1951, the Battalion was tasked with capturing Hill 416 near the Han River. During the attack a series of artillery shells landed close to Lance Corporal Yapp and he was severely injured. Although evacuated by helicopter Lance Corporal Yapp died en route to the hospital.
Reflecting on the presentation, Mrs Rix said: "We are proud and honoured to receive this medal on George's behalf. We'd like to thank everyone involved in organising the ceremony; it was a great tribute to George's life."
The introduction of the Elizabeth Cross in July last year was the first time the name of a reigning monarch had been given to a new award since the George Cross was instituted in 1940 by King George VI, for brave acts by both civilians and the military.
Alongside the sterling silver emblem in the shape of a cross over a wreath, a memorial scroll signed by The Queen was also presented to Mrs Rix and her family.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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