War graves may get signposts
THE campaign to have war graves in an old burial ground officially signposted is gaining pace.
Last week we revealed how a visit to the war graves of France and Belgium has prompted pupils from Whitby High School to build their own remembrance website.
And we told how their researches had highlighted the fact that more than 20 graves in the old Christ Church grounds of men wounded in the First World War but who later died at home had no standard green Commonwealth War Graves Commission direction sign.
School history teacher Mike Royden, who has co-ordinated the research project, reckoned this could be the subject of a local campaign.
The Pioneer agreed and decided to champion the cause.
We put the idea to the town's Royal British Legion and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) which have both agreed to look into it.
Ted Roach, chairman of the legion's Ellesmere Port branch, said: 'It's quite well known locally that the graves are there. We believe there are about 24 of them, which we mark with little crosses at this time of year.
'They are the last resting place of men who died from their wounds and are therefore war graves, so I will put the signposting suggestion to our next committee meeting next month.'
Peter Francis, spokesman for the CWGC, said: 'We will certainly look into this and see if there is anything we can do.
'It is good to hear of the work these young people are doing.'