Wardle's hidden memorial

Wardle War Memorial, next to the Old Library Nursery opened in 1949 and extended in 1950 to include the pavilion that sits in the centre with the actual memorial

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It turns out that a second memorial was commissioned and opened in Wardle in 1950, says Councillor Alan McCarthy.

On Wardle Road there is the Community Centre, then the well known war memorial, next there is the old library nursery and then there is a second garden, this is the memorial gardens which were opened in 1949 and extended in 1950 to include the pavilion that sits in the centre with the actual memorial and opened by Kenneth James.

Kenneth James said ‘he felt very honoured to be chosen as a representative of the Wardle men and women who served in the Forces to open the memorial to those who went to war but did not come back. On behalf of the relatives of those who had lost their lives he thanked the War Memorial Committee for providing such a worthy memorial’.

Wardle Urban District Council stated at the time:

Wardle Urban District Council makes sure those from the area who died in the two world wars receive a fitting memorial:

• 24 November 1919 – Wardle war memorial proposed
• 4 December 1920 – Memorial Opened in the Garden of Remembrance 
• July 1949 – Memorial, Public Bowling Green and tennis Courts opening
• 15 July 1950 Wardle war memorial garden and Shelter opened by Kenneth James.