Praise for Wirral’s new war memorial

Oct 5 2011 by Liam Murphy, Heswall News

HUNDREDS of veterans, families of soldiers and VIPs turned out for the dedication service to mark a new war memorial in Wirral.

The memorial commemorates servicemen and women who have been awarded the Victoria or George Cross, 1,100 local people killed in action during World War Two and those who have fallen in other conflicts since.

It is part of the council’s efforts to make the Cenotaph at Hamilton Square, Birkenhead, the focal point of remembrance for members of the Armed Forces who have previously not been named on any other memorial.

Among those at the service were relatives of those who have died fighting in recent conflicts, among them Jean and Christopher Lawrence, the nan and brother of Trooper Phillip Lawrence, who died after he was caught in an explosion in Lashkar Gah, Afghanistan, in 2009.

Mrs Lawrence said her grandson was “a Birkenhead boy” and having the memorial in his home town was very important.

She added: “The people of Birkenhead are marvellous too in the way they have turned out today for this.”

Christopher added: “The service was fantastic and shows how the council feels about soldiers who have lost their lives with the respect they have shown.”

Also at the service were Jodie Isaac and Helen Fisher, who both lost their cousins – Alex Isaac, from Eastham, and Douglas Halliday, of Rock Ferry – in Afghanistan last year.

Jodie said it was hard to look at the names but “they are there for a reason”.

She said: “They should be recognised for their bravery.” Helen added: “This is where they were from, they did their passing-out parade here. It is important for the lads’ names to be here.”

The ceremony was led by the mayor of Wirral, Cllr Moira McLaughlin, who said: “It is important family and friends of those who died, as well as other members of the public, have somewhere special to remember their loved ones and I am pleased this new memorial will provide a dedicated focal point.”

Further memorials are to be added next year.