OVER 120 names are to be added to Comber War Memorial after work by local historians and families discovered a number of names had been forgotten.
The list of 123 names of soldiers who died during the First World War was collated by the Comber branch of the Royal British Legion and all have been historically researched and verified according to War Memorial Guidelines.
Ards and North Down Council has confirmed that the names will soon be added to the existing memorial in the town.
Comber councillor and council Veterans’ Champion, alderman Trevor Cummings, has thanked the ‘diligent work’ of Dr Stange and the working group which has been working behind the scenes to bring the final list forward.
At a recent meeting of the council’s Environment Committee, Alderman Cummings asked if the names will be in place on the War Memorial in time for the 110th commemoration of the Battle of the Somme.
Council officers replied they will be looking into this and into getting the names up as swiftly as they can.
DUP councillor Libby Douglas said ‘it is incredibly important’ that the council does everything possible to keep the memory alive of all the individuals who lost their lives during the First World War.
“I look forward to the plaques with the individuals’ names being added to Cumber’s War Memorial and I just would like to give a special thank you and a message to the Comber branch of the Royal British Legion.”
SDLP councillor Joe Boyle said he welcomed the report and praised that 123 names which had been forgotten would now be on the memorial.
He said: “I have no doubt many of those names will be local names and we can all attach somebody to that surname. It’s very special for any of those families about the borough that the names may be appearing and I think that’s a wonderful bit of work.”
The next steps for the memorial will involve the council contacting a local foundry for the production of the plaques. Initial budget costs indicate an approximate total cost of £5,000 for the three plaques which will be added.
