The War Memorial in Chitterne has been updated to include three soldiers from the village that sacrificed their lives in the World War II.
The names of three men, Lieutenant Edwin Laurence George, Lance Sergeant William Clifford Stacey and Private Leonard Albert Salter, were added to the memorial which was unveiled at a special ceremony on Tuesday 11th November.
The men all lost their lives in their 20s during World War II and were buried in Europe.
“The memorial has the names of seven dead and 82 who served in World War I engraved on it. The names of those who died are also recorded on a brass plaque in the church,” said Richard Jammes, from Chitterne’s Royal British Legion.
“Similarly, there is a plaque with the names of two soldiers who died in World War II. However, it did not include the name of a Lance Sergeant Stacey, a verifiable villager whose family has never understood why his name was not included on the plaque.”
Family members of the three men, including William Clifford Stacey’s daughter, Barbara Savage, attended the ceremony, along with church and military representatives, villagers, and schoolchildren.
During the ceremony, biographies of each soldier were read by a senior regimental representative, followed by the laying of regimental wreathes and the laying of wreaths by family members.
“I am delighted that the ceremony met our objectives,” said Richard. “Of great importance, was that all the families of ‘the fallen sons of Chitterne’ appreciated our collective efforts to recognise their relatives.”
“We now have a War Memorial that properly lists all those who died in both World Wars and particularly with the name Lance Sergeant Stacey that previously had no recognition.”
Funds to cover the engraving were raised by the Parish Council, regimental contributions and local donations.
