Fitting tribute to remember them

We also remember those who died in the Second World War and in many other wars and include in that the many that were injured, some so badly that life could never be the same.

Spare also a thought for those who died and have never been given the decency of a name on our war memorials.

Some years back 32 names that were missed were put on Warwick War Memorial and to date 20 on Leamington’s. It needs dedication and patience to find many more that are still missing. This can be done by looking through Fowler’s book on Warwickshire’s fallen, a job I did some six years ago. Many names are still not honoured mainly because a party of councillors came to a decision that if the person had not lived in Leamington for five years or more then they were not eligible. I believe that my original list of 62 names was wrong and since then by careful investigation, it is nearer 160.

So I move on to Warwick War Memorial and my five year battle to have my old school friend Marine Graham Gillingham entered, when he lost his life in 1962 while on active service in the Borneo war. I have been assured it will be in place before Remembrance Day this year. This I hope will bring some comfort to Graham’s family and friends still in the town.

Long may we remember these brave people and the sacrifice they made.

David Bradshaw, address supplied