Aaron set to join the list of heroes

FALLEN Ipswich war heroes are set to be honoured when their names are added to a memorial plaque to be unveiled next month.

As well as recording the names of those soldiers who died during the Second World War but were left off the original plaque, those who have perished in recent conflicts will also be remembered, including Private Aaron McClure, who was just 19 when he was killed in Afghanistan in 2007.

Members of the public are invited to a special dedication service on Sunday May 10 at the cenotaph in Christchurch Park to honour those who have given their lives for their country.

The service will be the culmination of a five-year campaign to honour soldiers from the town who were killed after 1945 and the nine servicemen missed from the Second World War plaque.

Allan McClure, Private McClure's uncle, said: “I am well chuffed about this-really pleased. When we went to the Remembrance Service in the park last year, we were just part of the crowd so to have him honoured like this is really good.

“Aaron would have been pleased too. He used to go to the services on Remembrance Day so to have this plaque is really poignant.”

The campaign was begun by Peter Thompson, the chairman of the Ipswich branch of the Royal British Legion after it emerged that some names had been omitted from the war memorial for Second World War soldiers, which was unveiled in 2004.

Following his death in 2006, his friend Taff Gillingham took up the challenge which has involved included gathering information on the soldiers, designing the plaques, getting planning permission, producing the artwork and raising the necessary funds.

Although most of the money for the plaques has been raised, a further �500 is still needed.

Mr Gillingham, who also is a member of the Khaki Chums group of military historians, said: “We want as many people as possible to come along to the park on May 10. Ipswich is very proud of those who have died for their country.

“Very often war memorials are seen as ancient history but when you have Aaron McClure's name there, you realise that all these families in the past have felt just the same as his family.

“We want to trace as many relatives of the soldiers as we can so they may be guests of honour at the service.”

Two members from each family will be invited onto the cenotaph for the unveiling of the plaques, which starts at 11am.

Ipswich stonemason Paul Templeton, who made the Second World War panels, has been commissioned to erect the plaques.

Do you think your loved one in the armed forces has been rightly honoured? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.

If you are a relative of those who died in post-1945 conflicts, or if you know the whereabouts of the family of the men who died in the Second World War, contact Taff on 01473 712723. Any help with the service history of these men would also be appreciated.

If you wish to make a donation to the appeal, make cheques payable to Ipswich War Memorial Appeal and send them to

Ipswich War Memorial Appeal, 218 Colchester Road, Ipswich, IP4 4QZ.

The war memorial at the cenotaph was first unveiled in May 1923 to commemorate those who had died in the First World War. The plaque to honour those who died in the Second World War opened in May 2004.

Additional Second World War Names:

Corporal Ernest Fountain, Suffolk Regiment. Germany, 1945

Driver Eric William Good, Royal Army Service Corps. Rangoon, 1945

Driver Ernest William Good, Royal Army Service Corps. Tobruk, 1942

Corporal Douglas Benjamin Holland, Royal Engineers. Holland, 1945

CSM George William Lankester. Suffolk Regiment. Normandy, 1944

Boy James Walter Martin, Manchester Regiment. Singapore,1942

Able Seaman Donald Frederick Murray. HMS Sphinx, 1940

CSM Francis Lionel Overman, Suffolk Regiment. Normandy, 1944

Sergeant Pilot Fred Tomkins, 7 Squadron RAFVR. Germany, 1942

Conflicts Post-1945:

Lieutenant B. Swinbanks, Royal Engineers. Korea, 1951

Private R.H. McDonald, Royal Norfolk Regiment. Korea, 1952

L/Bombardier Maurice A. Bretell, Royal Artillery. Korea, 1952

F/Officer Kenneth W. Banyard, Royal Air Force. Cyprus, 1956

Private Gary I. Barnes, Parachute Regiment. Northern Ireland, 1979

Private Aaron J. McClure, Royal Anglian Regiment. Afghanistan, 2007