A solution to the mystery of the missing names of local heroes from two world wars on Marlborough’s war memorials is being promoted by former mayor Councillor Andrew Ross, who has spent years delving into the subject.
Since it is virtually impossible to amend or add to the names on the town’s numerous memorials – some believed to have dubious connections with Marlborough – he suggests the creation of a brand new memorial.
This could take the form of a Book of Remembrance on show at Marlborough Town Hall or a new war memorial painted panel of names that could go on show to the public.
“There is the possibility we could do both,” Councillor Ross, who chairs the council’s finance and policy committee, told Marlborough News Online. “And that ought to satisfy everyone.”
The issue has arisen following a letter to the council last month from an unidentified woman who asked for her late uncle’s name to be added to the war memorial at the A346/Barn Street roundabout. “I am grateful for anything that can be done so that his sacrifice is not forgotten,” she wrote.
But there are in fact war memorials too in three local churches, as well as at Marlborough College, and the names on them do not match and some, according to Councillor Ross, who has studied the subject, are possibly suspect as to their direct association with Marlborough.
This spurred the Mayor, Councillor Edwina Fogg, to suggest at the last council meeting that the council should adopt proposals made by the War Memorials Trust, though this course might involve expensive research.
Councillor Ross’s own investigation has discovered a total of 104 names. “And I believe I have identified 99 of them,” he said. “But the names are quite a mystery, some appearing to have obscure Marlborough links while others have excellent Marlborough connections.”
“Without seeing their war records or past council minutes it is impossible to know why some men are included and others are not.”
He has, for example, one amazing example of a Marlborough soldier not listed on the roundabout memorial – Private George Perritt, of Barn Street, who served in the Wiltshire Yeomanry and Sixth Wiltshire Regiment, who was killed in action in March, 1918, who listed on the French war memorial in Arras but not in Marlborough.
The new defunct Marlborough Times newspaper revealed a further six men, two from Manton together with a Marlborough College schoolmaster, Alfred Millard, who are not listed on the borough’s war memorial.
And the memorials in the churches of St Mary’s and St Peter’s provide 15 other names, plus a brass plaque in St Mary’s showing another seven names displayed at St Katherine’s, Cadley, as well as one from Ogbourne St Andrew.
His further research of 99 known names show that 78 were killed in action or died from their wounds, 16 died from illness, two were blown up, two sailors went down with their ships and one soldier was shot accidentally.
One of the sailors who died on the battleship HMS Bulwark was 16-year-old Arthur Northcott, whose family lived in St Martins, Marlborough. “I believe he was the youngest men named on our war memorial,” said Councillor Ross.
“The whole subject is to be debated at next month’s meeting of the Finance and Policy Committee and, I hope, some agreement reached about creating a Book of Remembrance and possibly a war memorial plaque in the town hall where it can be seen by everyone.”
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