Historian Richard Houghton reflects on Ormskirk's war memorial service

Nov 15 2012 Ormskirk Advertiser

IT WAS indeed a privilege to be invited to the dedication of the Ormskirk War Memorial and the inaugural Remembrance Day service at the new location.

I must say the memorial does look impressive, now befitting those who so sacrificed their lives.

With Armistice Day so vivid in our memory, we hear of the 49th death this year, the traumatic news is awful for that family to bear, but upon this day of all days.

It is important also to remember those left limbless or mental scars we owe them much.

Before the Iraq war, little consideration was afforded to service personnel, for many years pre 2000 commemoration of the fallen were at odds with ‘Cool Britain’.

In the 1980s the Falklands created an upsurge of pride but did not continue for long. Those families who ‘lost’ in those times must feel neglected when compared to the coverage afforded today, a regrettable fact.

Remembering the fallen and maimed should not be borne out of political motivations but appreciation of what they do. It takes immense bravery to go into battle conscious of the outcome, far braver than the decision to send them there.

It is also worth pointing out that West Lancashire is the only council and parliamentary constituency to have been represented by a British Infantry Division in the Great War.

The 55th and 57th West Lancashire divisions raised soldiers from territorials across south west Lancashire.

Mayor Greenall presented a ‘one off’ address to the assembled congregation at St Peter & Paul Church last Sunday it was given a ‘personal’ touch rightly said with immense pride, ‘capped’ by a Sassoon poem ‘Suicide in the Trenches.’.

I recommend you to look up the prose. The mayor’s address will be a hard act to follow.