VILLAGERS at Shobdon have been picking up the pieces of their war memorial, badly damaged after being struck by a car last month.

Yet the incident has brought to light a number of missing names from the parish’s roll of honour.

A recent report on the accident in the Hereford Times alerted a local historian who has been surveying war memorials in Herefordshire. Shobdon Parish Council was told these researches revealed that more than 20 names should be added to the present list of six.

Now the parish council is investigating this claim and plans to hold a public meeting next month to gather more information about parishioners who lost their lives on active service.

Said parish council chairman, Councillor Bill Stokes: “We want to open this up to the whole parish, to see what other names should be added to the memorial, and whether it should be moved into the middle of the village.”

Cllr Stokes said a Pembridge historian, who has conducted a survey of war memorials in the county, explained that Shobdon’s cross should have “at least” 20 more names.

“We are planning to do our own research and validate the names which could be added,” he said. The matter has only come to light as a result of an accident two weeks ago when a car collided with the memorial. “A meeting was held at Shobdon in 1922, almost 96 years to the day it was flattened,” said Cllr Stokes.

Records dating back to that year show that the parish council received £25 from the war committee towards providing a memorial. Lady Bateman, who lived at Shobdon Court, donated £25 and further donations were expected to make up the £50 required.

“When everyone is back from their holidays, we will have a public meeting to see if it would be reasonable to move the memorial into the middle of the village,” said Cllr Stokes. “The parish records don’t say why it was put where it was at the junction with Ledicot Lane.” In the meantime, the damaged pieces have been removed for safekeeping.

“With stonemasons busy in this centenary year, we will take our time to have the memorial restored,” he added. With a commitment to adding more names, the parish council will be researching those villagers killed during the First World War, the Second World War and the Korean War.

“Until now, the memorial only has six names of local men killed during the First World War,” said Cllr Stokes. He explained that a memorial at nearby Shobdon Airfield was dedicated to those who died on active service with the RAF.

“We are keen to hear from anyone who feels their relative from Shobdon should be added to the memorial,” he said.

Information can be sent to parish council clerk Emma Lewis at shobdonparishclerk@gmail.com