Three new plaques wil be added to Comber War Memorial
An additional 123 names have been found for a World War Memorial in a County Down village.
The names are those of casualties from the First World War, covering the period 1914 to 1918, who were omitted from the war memorial in Comber.
The Comber Branch of the Royal British Legion were provided with a historically researched and compiled list of individuals who were previously not included.
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A report by officials at the Ards and North Down Borough Council Environment Committee states: “Upon receipt of (the list), the Branch agreed to initiate a process in accordance with War Memorial Trust Guidelines. This included the establishment of a working group to undertake detailed scrutiny of the names and to commence a formal verification process.
“Council officers have since been collaborating with the working group and all missing names are now believed to have been collated and verified. In total, 123 names have been collected and verified by the working group.”
Officers are proposing the names will be distributed over three plaques, situated on the existing war memorial. The council has approached a local foundry for production, with an initial budget approximated at £5,000 for the plaques.
DUP Alderman Trevor Cummings said at the council’s May Environment Committee meeting: “I want to put on record my particular thanks for the diligent work of Dr Sange and the working group who behind the scenes have brought the final list together. The council report comes at a good time, as the working group are making their final appeal to families. They don’t anticipate any further information coming forward, and they should have a comprehensive list.”
He said the group were hoping to do the unveiling this year, to tie in with the 110th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.
DUP Councillor Libby Douglas said: “It is incredibly important that we as a council do everything we can to keep the memory alive of all the individuals who lost their lives during the First World War. I look forward to the plaques with the individual’s names being added to the Comber War Memorial, and I give a special mention to the Comber branch of the Royal British Legion.”
SDLP Councillor Joe Boyle said: “I thank Alderman Cummings for bringing a very sensible and meaningful report. I don’t tend to take to my feet too often in these types of situations, but there is a humane side, and for 123 names that once were forgotten, for them to be now on display, is very special. For those families, it is a wonderful bit of work. I have to congratulate the working group, it is a mammoth task to unearth 123 names.”
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