Mission to save war memorials

WAR veteran Harry Mills is campaigning to save Greater Manchester’s forgotten war memorials. But he isn’t alone.

He’s just one of a small band of regional volunteers who give up their time for the War Memorials Trust – campaigning and even cleaning if needed.

Harry, 74, from Heywood, near Rochdale, served with the Manchester Regiment and the Royal Army Ordnance Corps before he joined the Territorial Army.

Fuelled by a passion for history and remembrance, he now assesses and records memorials across Greater Manchester to preserve them for future generations.

Harry, chairman of the Lancashire Veterans’ Association, said: “I have served in America, Canada and central Europe and the war graves there are always well looked after.

“They are tended by local people, schoolchildren and other groups. It seems that here, in this country, there’s a lack of understanding and it is wrong. These memorials are part of our history – they are not just pieces of stone. They represent people who gave their lives for freedom.”

Currently the trust has more than 100 volunteers acting as its ‘eyes and ears’ in different regions. Research also plays a key part as the trust can apply to have war memorials officially listed and protected.

“We try to push councils and people to act,” said Harry, speaking at the war memorial at Moston Cemetery, off Moston Lane in Manchester.

The stone memorial wall honours the dead of both World Wars, but also pays tribute to soldiers from Belgium who fled to Britain and set up home in Manchester.

The memorial has been refurbished over the years, but Harry said not all of them in Greater Manchester are as lucky.

Volunteers share information on spreadsheets and contact web pages.

He appealed to anyone with an interest to get involved and volunteer, adding: “It is all our jobs to make sure these memorials are visited and protected.”