Council To Install £50k War Memorial To Commemorate Fallen Post-WWII

Published on: 7 Jul, 2017
Updated on: 8 Jul, 2017

An additional war memorial honouring Guildford people who have died during military action or service since the Second World War has been announced by the borough council.

Costing £50,000 – to cover all fees, materials, fabrication and installation costs – 15 names have so far been identified to be commemorated on it.

Hundreds gathered in the Castle Grounds at Guildford to pay their respects to those who have been killed in conflicts since 1914.

Hundreds gathered in the Castle Grounds at Guildford on Remembrance Sunday in 2016 to pay their respects to those who have been killed in conflicts since 1914.

When the council first announced plans for the new memorial in November last year (2016), The Guildford Dragon NEWS published a story in which the council appealed for help to find names and we questioned whether there would be enough names found to make it viable. Click here to read previous story.

On receiving the council’s latest press release on the new memorial, The Guildford Dragon NEWS asked it whether the memorial will be installed if only a few names are found to be inscribed on it?

The council replied stating: “We have 15 names for the new war memorial so far, and we are definitely planning to go ahead.”

The memorial will be located in the Castle Grounds and will be installed by 2018, to tie in with the centenary of the end of the First World War.

In the press release Cllr Matt Furniss, lead councillor for infrastructure and governance, said: “We are now seeking expressions of interest from designers, artists and sculptors, and asking them to put their ideas forward.

“If you know of a relative or friend who has been lost in service – whose name we could add to the memorial, please get in touch.”

To do so, call the council’s policy and partnerships manager, Stephen Benbough, on 01483 444052. Or send an email to: stephen.benbough@guildford.gov.uk

Also, if you would like a copy of the design brief for the memorial, again contact Mr Benbough. A deadline for expressions of interest is Friday, August 18, 2017.

The council adds that the “design will complement the location and its existing built features, including the existing memorial”.

The war memorial in the Castle Grounds. Picture by Sheila Atkinson.

The war memorial in the Castle Grounds that commemorates those who fell in the First and Second World Wars. Picture by Sheila Atkinson.

Local historian and Dragon NEWS writer David Rose has recently been in correspondence with a member of a family who have identified a relative from Guildford who was killed in the First World War, but who is not listed on the existing memorial in the Castle Grounds.

David has forwarded details of who they should contact at the council to request the name is added.

The Guildford Dragon NEWS has asked the council if names are suggested of Guildford people who died on active service during the First or Second World Wars will they be added to the existing memorial and would there be a cost?

The council replied: “Yes this is possible to do free of charge, subject to any normal validation procedures.”

Guildford now has two other memorials to men with Guildford connections and who both won the Victoria Cross during the First World War. Their plaques are located under Tunsgate, off the High Street.

In September 2015, not long after the first of the two stone plaques had been installed, The Guildford Dragon NEWS published a story in which Guildford Borough Councillor Bob McShee (Con, Worplesdon) called for the plaque to be re-sited in the Castle Grounds near the war memorial as it was difficult to see them in Tunsgate. Click here for previous story.

Asked this week about any plans to re-site the plaques, the council replied: “There are currently no plans to move the VC stones from Tunsgate.”

What are your views on the additional war memorial? Please leave a reply in the box below.

Responses to Council To Install £50k War Memorial To Commemorate Fallen Post-WWII

Dave Middleton Reply

July 8, 2017 at 1:12 pm

I’m in favour of the memorial.

Names I feel should be added are:

William Forsyth Scots Guards
John Hunter Scots Guards
Caroline Jean Salter WRAC
Ann Ray Hamilton WRAC

These are the service personnel killed on 5 October 1974 by IRA enemy action in the Guildford Pub Bombings.

The pub was targeted by the IRA as it was known to be popular with service personnel and that service personnel would be killed and injured.

Another name for consideration, is Kathleen Valerie McClun, who was a private in the WRAC, brutally murdered on Pig Alley at Stoughton, overnight 23/24th June 1968 on her way back to camp. Not killed by enemy action, but she was a serving soldier at the time.
Bernard Parke Reply

July 8, 2017 at 2:22 pm

It has often been unavoidable in the past to fight for peace by taking up arms. In doing so many of our young men and women have paid with their lives in this very act.

Their efforts should not go unrecorded. They should be a reminder that the relative peace we enjoy was not won lightly.

To remember those who were killed since the end of the last war is commendable but what better way to achieve this than to invite us to remember them by financing this memorial by public subscription?
Jim Allen Reply

July 8, 2017 at 4:52 pm

Being controversial – I do wonder in what year we stop remembering the fallen of the 1st World War, the Boer War, the Battle of Waterloo, the Battle of Hastings…

Are we endanger of turning them, like Christmas into a financial excuse to sell a card, a wreath, a TV program, a campaign group, etc.

Far better we stand in silence for a minute every day and remember those who gave their lives for our peace and safety we live in today and contemplate our own future actions to make our country and world a better place for all.

Personally, I don’t need an expensive monument to stand at once a year to contemplate the past and the future.