Ormskirks’s war memorial moves to Coronation Park

Oct 25 2012 by Tom Duffy, Ormskirk Advertiser

ORMSKIRK’S war memorial has been moved to Coronation Park in preparation for Remembrance Sunday.

A service to mark the re-location of the memorial will take place on Sunday at 2pm.

A new home was needed for the memorial due to the closure of the Comrades Club.

Work began in September, and contractors removed the memorial from outside the Comrades Club at the beginning of October for cleaning.

Councillor Ian Grant, the leader of the Council, said : "I am delighted that the war memorial has been moved to its new home in time for Remembrance Sunday.

“The new location will allow better access for ceremonies and individuals to pay their respects.”

Rev Chris Jones, vicar at Ormskirk Parish Church, will lead the re-dedication service and military associations will bring their standards in.

The Duke of Lancaster Regiment, which was given Freedom of the Borough of West Lancashire last year, will be represented at the ceremony.

The names of the fallen listed on the roll of honour that used to be in the Comrades Club will be placed in a time capsule and sealed within the memorial. Then the last post will be played before those gathered pay a silent tribute.

New paving has been put in place around the memorial.

Further works to provide two carved stone plaques with the names of local people who have lost their lives serving their country, and new bench seating on the paved area, in front of the War Memorial are planned for next year.

Military historian Richard Houghton said: “Perhaps now Ormskirk will at last have a memorial that is befitting to its town, with the intention to add the names of the fallen for both world wars and subsequent conflicts. The new site will enhance the presence of our memorial for visitors and commemoration alike, as its previous location, whilst poignant and appropriate for 1920 was rather lost in time in the old location, with the memorial not reflecting the number or the men themselves. The military traditions of the town deserves a memorial which endorses the sacrifice of so many from the town and surrounding villages, perhaps at last we can look forward to that becoming reality"