NINE names lost to posterity after the Second World War are to be honoured on a Hereford war memorial this spring.

Thanks to the persistence of a Kington man, these servicemen who died during the war will now be remembered on the Holmer memorial on Widemarsh Common. Until now only the names of casualties from the First World War have been listed, but on Friday March 15, Royal British Legion standard-bearers will be in attendance for a special dedication ceremony.

Chris Jones, who served in the Royal Navy, has spent two years trying to find a lasting memorial to his father, 24-year-old Private George Richard Jones, who was killed in action in France. ‘Dick’ Jones was born at the Golden Lion in Grandstand Road and was already a Territorial Army infantryman when he signed up for duty with the Hereford Regiment.

Now the hunt is on to find relatives of the other eight men whose names have been added to the memorial. Apart from Private Jones, who is buried in a Normandy war grave, the other names are: Ronald Edward Watkins, Kenneth Shearer, William Charles Hodges, Thomas William Read, William James Davies, Ronald William Cumbes, Frederick Silvester and Frank Prosser.

“With the exception of Frank Prosser, who was in the Navy, the others were ex-pupils of Holmer School,” said Mr Jones. A memorial hangs in Holmer Primary School though Mr Jones felt it was important to have the roll of honour in a public place.

All the names have been officially verified, he added.

The dedication ceremony is being organised by county chair of the RBL, Barbara Leeson and vicar of Holmer, the Rev Steven Lees and children from nearby Holmer School will be there. Refreshments are to be provided by the Lads’ Club.

Hereford City Council has paid for most of the work while Mr Jones’s family has contributed £1,800. His mother, Muriel donated £500 shortly before she died last year.

Later this summer, Mr Jones and his wife, Wendy will be in France to mark the anniversary of Private Jones’ death. They will be visiting the new Normandy Memorial in tribute to the 22,000 service personnel who gave their lives during the D-Day Landings and Battle of Normandy in 1944.

*Anyone who would like to attend the dedication of the Holmer memorial can get in touch with joneschris@supanet.com