People in Gedling borough with ancestors who fell during the Great War are being urged to ensure their ancestors get honoured on a new memorial being constructed in Nottingham.
More than 14,000 local soldiers, sailors, air crew and civilians gave their lives during World War I (1914-1918). The fallen will now be named together, for the first time, on the new memorial to be built at the Victoria Embankment later this year.
The names being included on the new memorial are being taken from the Nottinghamshire Great War Roll of Honour – www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/rollofhonour – an online database which includes the names of those killed, plus further details such as family history, military honours, photographs, letters home and press reports.
The Roll of Honour has been compiled by a team of volunteers, led by local historian David Nunn, who have scoured 677 village and town memorials across the city and county in chapels, churches, churchyards, parish halls, factories, schools, post offices, parish halls and sports clubs as well as archives and press cuttings.
However, prior to the creation of the Roll of Honour, no list of Nottinghamshire’s Great War dead had ever been compiled and many communities did not keep written records of the 1914 – 18 losses, so researchers are concerned that some names could have been missed.
Nottinghamshire County Council and Nottingham City Council, who have jointly commissioned the new memorial, are now urging people in the borough to check that the names of family members, or others they know of, are listed to ensure they take their rightful place on the memorial. All details must be submitted by the end of January so that work on etching the thousands of names can begin, in time for a grand unveiling of the memorial this summer.
Cllr Kay Cutts MBE, Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, said: The new Great War Memorial will be a moving symbol of our appreciation to the 14,000 local men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in the Great War and be a focal point for county and city residents to say thank you – please help us ensure that all our fallen are rightfully recognised.”
Cllr Jon Collins, Leader of Nottingham City Council, said: “It is important to bring together a definitive list of those fallen and having a single memorial in place will create a focus for families and visitors that will allow them to reflect upon and commemorate their lives.
“Working with Nottinghamshire County Council and district councils on this project, we will commemorate the thousands of Nottingham city and Nottinghamshire people who died in the First World War.”
Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council are working with the seven district and borough councils, Ashfield, Bassetlaw, Broxtowe, Gedling, Mansfield, Newark and Sherwood and Rushcliffe to create the memorial, at a total cost of £395,000.
£80,000 is being raised for the project through public subscriptions to support the commission of the memorial and its on-going maintenance. Local businesses and residents from across Nottinghamshire are being encouraged to contribute, which can be done online at http://nosf.org.uk/roll-of-honour.html
