WE will remember them.

Lizzie Parry

WE will remember them.

After years of waiting, the families of servicemen killed in the Second World War and those who have lost their loved ones in recent conflicts can today rest safely in the knowledge we will not forget.

At a service of re-dedication at the Ipswich War Memorial in Christchurch Park yesterday more than 100 veterans, family members and onlookers joined together to pay their respects as the names of 15 fallen heroes were added to a memorial plaque.

With the sun shining over the cenotaph the Deputy Lieutenant of Suffolk, brigadier Adam Gurdon unveiled the plaques as organiser Taff Gillingham read out the names of the fallen.

Mayor of Ipswich David Hale and brigadier Gurdon placed wreaths on the memorial on behalf of The Queen and the people of Ipswich.

For the families of those soldiers honoured at the ceremony, the service was one of mixed emotions, sorrow, grief but an overwhelming feeling of pride.

The service marked the culmination of five years of campaigning to honour those servicemen from the town who were killed after 1945, and the nine omitted from the Second World War plaque.

It was launched 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 memorial for Second World War soldiers, unveiled in 2004.

Following Mr Thompson's death Mr Gillingham took up the challenge, which has involved gathering information on the soldiers, designing the plaques, getting the planning permission required, producing the artwork and raising the necessary funds.

After yesterday's service he said it had been a fitting ceremony but vowed to carry on to ensure the memorial is regularly updated.

“It went brilliantly, it all dropped into place,” he said. “I have lived with this project for the last five years, it has been a long process putting it all together but everybody has enjoyed the day.

“I am very proud it is nice that so many people turned out, we are really chuffed.

“In the last few weeks a few more names have popped up so it will be an on-going project. It is a war memorial and our aim is to keep it updated to remember all our fallen heroes.”

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

Did you go to the service? What did you think? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.

LORRAINE McClure, mother of brave Ipswich soldier Private Aaron McClure who was just 19 when he was killed in Afghanistan in 2007, said she was “bursting with pride” following yesterday's service.

Surrounded by family and friends she said: “I really can't put it into words.

“It is one of these occasions where you are bursting with pride, but on the other side his name should not be on there.

“Aaron used to come up here on Remembrance Sunday to pay his respects, but I never thought his name would be up there.

“For as long as the cenotaph stands Aaron's name will be there, it makes me feel really, really proud.

“I always think I can't get any more proud but on days like this I am. But it breaks my heart at the same time.”

Additional Second World War names

Corporal Ernest Fountain, Suffolk Regiment. Germany, 1945

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

Driver Ernest William Good, Royal Army Service Corps. Torbruk, 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

Post-1945 conflicts names

Lieutenant Brian Swinbanks, Royal Engineers. Korea, 1951

Private Roy McDonald, Royal Norfolk Regiment. Korea, 1952

L/Bombardier Maurice A Brettell, 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