Fallen heroes to be honoured on Havant memorial

Havant Borough Council has agreed to a plan to add two new plaques to the memorial outside St Faith’s Church, West Street.

So far, only the names of the fallen from the two world wars have been recorded there, but now the war dead from conflicts after 1945 in the Falklands, Northern Ireland, Afghanistan, Iraq and Palestine will be added.

Havant Mayor Councillor Leah Turner, who spearheaded the project, said she was delighted the council’s development management committee unanimously agreed to the changes at a meeting.

Cllr Turner said: ‘We owe those who have lost their lives in the service of our country the right to be remembered.’

Cllr Michael Cheshire, who was in the armed forces for more than 30 years, also praised the decision. He said: ‘I’m delighted the council will honour those who were not so lucky as myself to make it home.’

No-one at the meeting spoke against the move, although concerns were raised last year that the names should instead be added to smaller memorials in the parts of the borough in which they lived.

But Cllr Paul Buckley said: ‘This is the main memorial for the borough so it is right that those names be added to it.’

Not everyone at the meeting agreed on how much detail should be included.

Cllr Turner said she wanted the dates the men died to be included, while Cllr Buckley said listing only the year would be more consistent with the other plaques at the site.

Cllr Turner said that while only eight names of fallen service people had been found so far, there was still space for more.

She said they were aiming to have the plaques installed on March 13, and a service of dedication would also be held.