Rotherham veterans commemorate 80th anniversary of Great Yarmouth bombing tragedy

MILITARY veterans from Rotherham joined comrades from across the country to mark the anniversary of a great wartime tragedy.

The bombing raid on Great Yarmouth on May 11, 1943, killed 26 members of the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) the biggest loss of female service personnel in British history.

The 80th anniversary was marked with services across the nation, including one at Aston-Cum-Aughton, where 21-year-old Pte Jean Copley is buried.

This was attended by Women’s Royal Army Corps veterans Cheryl Jones, Karen Baxter and Leona Goffin, as well as male veterans and local historians.

The national coordinated tribute of 25 commemoration events took place at 2pm on May 14.