THE NAMES of five heroes who served in the Second World War have been immortalised in Droitwich ahead of Remembrance Sunday.
The five names missing from the town’s war memorial have now been added as part of the town’s plans to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the conflict against Nazi Germany.
Among them is RAF Flying Officer Bernard Belcher, who, according to online records, was born in 1911, just three years before the outbreak of the First World War, and was killed in a flying incident in July 1941.
Records also indicate Mr Belcher was the husband of Winifred Belcher, who lived in Worcester, and was the son of Albert and Kate Belcher.
RAF Captain HJ Jeffcoat is the other air force serviceman to be added to the memorial.
The names of Sgt Robert Hall, of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, Jack Haslam, who served in the Royal Artillery, and the Worcestershire Regiment Flying Officer, Pte Douglas Patrick McDornell, have also been added.
The names were found by Droitwich resident Peter Kennedy, who has an MA in War Studies and is passionate about the town’s heritage, in particular the memorial.
Mr Kennedy discovered the names of five servicemen who were listed in the former Droitwich Guardian newspaper between 1939 and 1947 were not on the town’s war memorial.
Mr Kennedy contacted Coun Richard Morris to see if Droitwich Spa Town Council could assist in adding the additional names.
At a meeting of the authority’s community and amenities committee in February, councillors agreed to sort the arrangements to include these names on the war memorial.
Coun Morris, on behalf of Droitwich Town Council, told the Standard: “I would like to thank the terrific work of Droitwich resident, Peter Kennedy, for looking into this and researching all the details and our Town Clerk for helping and facilitating everything.
“It’s terrific we can add these remarkable individuals to the memorial and pay our respect as a town as Droitwich does so brilliantly.”
Town Clerk Mark Keld also thanked Mayoral Chaplain Rev Laura Handy, Remembrance Parade Commander, Flt Lt Paul Wilde, and the Droitwich Spa Branch of the Royal British Legion for their efforts.
Mr Keld said: “The co-ordination achieved during this special 80th anniversary year, marking the end of the Second World War conflict, resonates strongly with community Spirit and poignancy.”
Droitwich will hold its annual Remembrance Sunday commemoration at the War Memorial in Victoria Square this weekend.
The service will get under way at 10.45am, with the traditional two-minute silence taking place 15 minutes later, followed by the wreath laying.
