A CEREMONY honouring the memory of two fallen soldiers from a local parish will take place this weekend. A bronze-cast plaque bearing the names of Captain James Philippson and Lieutenant James Barry, who were both from Bricket Wood, will be unveiled at th

A CEREMONY honouring the memory of two fallen soldiers from a local parish will take place this weekend.

A bronze-cast plaque bearing the names of Captain James Philippson and Lieutenant James Barry, who were both from Bricket Wood, will be unveiled at the Park Street War Memorial during Sunday's special service which has been organised by St Stephen Parish Council.

Captain Philippson died aged 29 during a Taliban ambush in Afghanistan in June 2006 and became the first soldier to be killed in the present conflict in the country. The ex-St Columba's College pupil who served with 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery and 7 Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery was on a mission to help pinned-down colleagues.

Lieutenant Barry died aged 24 in May 1982 during the Falklands War and was part of the 2nd Battalion Parachute Regiment of the Royal Signals.

About nine months ago Parish Councillor Mick Freeman made the proposal to honour the men and since then he has been busy organising the day.

The plaque will go alongside those bearing the names of local soldiers who died in both World Wars.

Cllr Freeman feels it is extremely important to honour soldiers who have died in conflict since then and believes that St Stephen are unique in doing so.

Father Richard Tillbrook will conduct the ceremony and around 50 members of the Parachute Regiment, in which both soldiers served, will be present.

Cadets from Captain Philippson's former school are also attending and they will be carrying the standards.

The ceremony will start at 2.45pm with the service at 3pm. This will conclude with the National Anthem during which Captain Philippson's father, Tony, and Lieutenant Barry's mother, Audrey, will unveil the plaque bearing their sons' names.

The reception will be held in the nearby Overdraught Pub.

The road through Park Street village will be closed between 2.15pm and 3.45pm for the service and Cllr Freeman advised those attending by car to park along Park Street Lane.