The Ben Hyde Memorial Pages

NORTHALLERTON
SILVER BAND

WILL PERFORM A CHARITY CONCERT IN MEMORY OF

LANCE CORPORAL "BEN" HYDE
AGC (RMP)

On 24 June 2003, six soldiers of the Royal Military Police died in a firefight, against impossible odds, in a police station, in the town of Al Majarr Al Kabir, Maysan province in South Iraq.

One of those Military Policemen was Lance Corporal Ben Hyde, who was born and lived, until he joined the Army, almost all of his life in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, where his parents still live today.

Shortly after Ben was killed in Action, Northallerton Silver Band dedicated a piece of music in his memory. This piece of music, "Ewecote", a hymn like tune, had lain for dormant for many years, the arrangement only recently having been discovered by a member of the family of the man who arranged it about half a century earlier. The band had played the piece on a couple of occasions and people remarked on what a beautiful piece it was. On hearing of Ben's death, the band Chairman, Mr David Prest approached Ben's parents and said the Band would like to dedicate the tune to Ben. The Band had every instrument sheet re-written and now every sheet reads, "Ewecote". This piece has been dedicated by Northallerton Silver Band in the memory of Lance Corporal Ben Hyde, Royal Military Police. On every occasion that the Northallerton Silver Band plays this piece of music, we will remember Ben Hyde, a peacemaker who lost his life, so others could live in piece. The Band play this piece at almost every concert they give.

The Silver Band play many concerts each year to raise money for charitable causes. They tried, unsuccessfully, in 2003 to organize a concert at Catterick Garrison in memory of Ben but had problems in finding a suitable venue. With the help of Ben's parents and the Garrison Chaplin, Rev Tim Cole, this problem has been resolved. On 12 March 2005, Northallerton Silver Band will play a concert in memory of Lance Corporal Ben Hyde at the Garrison Church, Church Road, Catterick Garrison. This concert will have special meaning at Catterick, as 150 Provo Company, Royal Military Police, which is based at Catterick, lost their own Commanding Officer, Major "Matt" Titchener and a Staff Sergeant, Colin Wall along with Corporal "Dewi" Prichard from the Midlands, all killed in a "drive by" shooting, in Basra, less than two months after Ben and his comrades died.

Although most of the Royal Military Policemen who died in Iraq in 2003 were young, Ben was aged 23, the youngest, "Tom" Keys was only 20. Between them, they left five young wives and at least three children under five, one of whom was not born until four months after her father died.

All proceeds from the concert will be shared between The Royal Military Police Central Benevolent Fund, The Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps Association, in the recognition of the work they do for the personnel wounded in Iraq, about whom we hear so very little, but who comprise the bulk of the casualties, also a proportion to Northallerton Silver Band Funds, to enable them to carry on with their good work in helping many local charities.

Tickets, at £5 each and £3 for concessions, are available in Northallerton Book Shop, Barkers Arcade, T P Sports, Central Arcade and Sweet Memories, East Road. In Catterick Garrison they are available from the "Cutting Room", Hairdressers, Hildyard Row, (White shops).