Delight as war memorial plans agreed
Emotional members of a British Legion branch shed tears of joy after discovering plans to revamp a war memorial have been approved.
Planners at Walsall Council gave the green light for a new memorial commemorating people who gave their lives in conflicts since 1945 to be installed at the Short Heath facility on High Road.
Other work will include the installation of flag poles and moving the existing black granite Second World War memorial out from behind the large Great War Monument which currently obscures it.
Both this and the new memorial – which will be similar in design – will be placed on plinths either side of the monument.
The branch is now appealing for families of members of the forces from the Short Heath and New Invention areas, who died whilst serving since the end of the Second World War, to get in touch to ensure their names are added to the new memorial.
Listed building consent for the project was gained last month and formal planning permission secured earlier this week.
John Elwell, chairman of the Short Heath branch of the British Legion, said: “I’m absolutely delighted. I actually burst into tears when I found out.
“Many years ago, I said to people that our Second World War memorial – as important as it is – looked more like a grave headstone. I wasn’t taking away from what it means but I felt it could be better to look at.
“At a previous remembrance parade, I spoke to the father who lost his son in a recent conflict and I told the branch treasurer that I wasn’t happy.
“We read all the names of people from the two world wars but if I was that man, I’d be thinking ‘what have I got to do to get my son mentioned?’
“When I met him, I started crying and said we really need a war memorial to honour people like his son.
“Councillors Adam Hicken and Garry Perry, as well as Walsall Council officers have been brilliant, taking on board what we said.
“We will put something there for future generations to keep remembrance alive – it means so much to everyone here.”
Councillor Hicken said: “It is fantastic to see local people take such an active role in remembering those who gave their lives whilst in service to our country.
“I applaud their dedication and drive to make this happen. It’s not everyday that you see a new memorial being erected and it’s quite right that those who died outside of the first and second world wars should also be remembered.”
People who know of fallen service men and women from the areas are asked to get in touch via email at johnelwell100@gmail.com.
