Service of Remembrance in Heywood for forgotten wars

A special Service of Remembrance for forgotten wars will be held at the Heywood Memorial Gardens on Saturday 22 June.

Organised by the Lancashire Veterans Association, the service is open to all, and serves to remind everyone of the many others who have died in service since the conclusion of World War Two.

Harry Mills, Chairman of the Lancashire Veterans Association and Parade Marshall, said: “This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Northern Irish 'Troubles' known to the Military as ‘Operation Banner’ also the 52nd anniversary of the massacre of 22 British troops in Aden.

“As a nation, we have lost 16,000 military personnel since 1945 – not to mention the countless number who suffered injury or illness, including post-traumatic stress. The suffering of their families must be unimaginable.

“We must never forget that all those who died, whether it be by enemy action, illness or accident had signed up to defend not only their country, but also the right of every man, woman and child to freedom from oppression.

“The least we can do is acknowledge their existence and their self-sacrifice a couple of times a year. It is thanks to them and those who went before that we have peace and freedom – two most valuable gifts.”

Unveiled in 2009, The Memorial Wall in Heywood Memorial Gardens commemorates all the local people who died in service since 1945, providing a focal point for friends, families, descendants and local townsfolk to visit and remember them.

Until relatively recently, it was the norm for such personnel to be buried in the country where they died which meant that many of their families were unable ever to visit their graves and gain some closure.

Mr Mills added: “In the course of my military service, I attended funerals of comrades in various countries including Aden, Germany, Kenya and Singapore. Some were killed in action, others died in service.

“On my retirement to Heywood, I attended the Remembrance Services and noticed that there seemed to be no formal memorial for those who had died after the two World Wars.

“In my view they all deserved recognition for their service, at least in their hometown, and I felt that it might help their families and friends if there was some sort of formal memorial.

“Eventually the Local Authority agreed that Heywood could have the Memorial Wall, which was suggested as being the most appropriate and practical means of commemorating the dead.

“The wall has been designed in such a way that names could be added as more people died.

“As far as I am aware, the Heywood Memorial Wall was the first of its kind in the country but has since been copied by other towns to commemorate their own people who died post 1945.”

Since its completion, the Lancashire Veterans, with occasional help from other veteran groups such as the Aden Veterans, have paid for, and held, at least one special Remembrance Service a year.

For more information, please visit:

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/events/61303/events-in-rochdale/service-of-remembrance