Soldiers raise flag marking start of Armed Forces Day celebrations in Barking and Dagenham

A flag raising ceremony attended by serving soldiers marked the start of Armed Forces Day celebrations.

Colour Sergeant Mitchell and Corporal Price of the 1st Battalion of the Royal Anglian Regiment, Councillor Liam Smith, Ian Hardy, and Major Tony Jones. - Credit: Archant

Major Tony Jones, Colour Sergeant Mitchell and Corporal Price of the 1st Battalion of the Royal Anglian Regiment joined council leader and cabinet member for armed forces Cllr Liam Smith to hoist the special white flag today.

Fallen soldier Corporal Alex Guy will have a street named after him - Credit: Archant

The ceremonyt took place on top of the Dagenham Civic Centre and was followed by a visit to the housing development site in Wood Lane due to be named in honour of fallen soldier, Corporal Alex Guy, as Alex Guy Gardens.

Corporal Guy was posthumously awarded the Military Cross by HRH Queen Elizabeth in March.

Councillor Liam Smith, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for the Armed Forces, said: “I am privileged to share the special honour of raising the flag with serving soldiers from our armed forces as a symbol of the affection, gratitude and the pride that the council and the people of the borough feel for them and their families.”

The council will mark Armed Forces Day on Saturday, June 29, with a day of festivities and talks at Valence House Museum, Becontree Avenue, Dagenham, from 11am to 4pm.