Post-1945 War Memorial

Site

The Memorial Gardens, Ashton, in front of the main war memorial.

Description

Two ornamental plinths made of Portland stone and standing either side of the walkway to the main war memorial.

History

The memorial commemorates forces personnel from Tameside who have died on active service since the end of the Second World War.

The original idea came from Vincent Robinson of Tameside Ex-Services Association who once saw a family placing tributes behind the main memorial. When he asked them why they were putting them there, rather than at the front, they replied that Ashton War Memorial was only for people killed in the two world wars and not for those who had died in theatres such as Malaya, Palestine, Cyprus, Korea or the two Gulf wars.

Mr Robinson’s idea was taken up by the late executive leader of Tameside Council, Cllr Roy Oldham, and brought to fruition by Cllr Jim Fitzpatrick.

The memorial was dedicated by the rector of Ashton, the Rev Roger Farnworth, on Thursday, 11 November, 2010. The first wreaths were laid by the Civic Mayor of Tameside, Cllr Jean Brazil.

Members of the Royal British Legion and Tameside Ex-Services Association took part in the ceremony which featured the Last Post and Reveille.

Those recorded on the new Tameside Memorial are:

Gunner Colin Malcolm Bailey (Royal Artillery). Killed in an ambush in Malaya on 19 January, 1949, aged 19. Son of Mr and Mrs Leslie Bailey of 16 Surrey Street, Hurst Cross.
Warrant Officer Thomas Nelson Berry (RAF Volunteer Reserve). Son of Mrs and Mrs Samuel Berry of Arnold Avenue, Hyde. Died 20 March, 1947, aged 26, piloting a Spitfire from the Isle of Man to England.
Squadron Leader Frederick George Birchall (Royal Australian Air Force). Died 17 April, 1946, aged 47 after an ambush in Indonesia. Buried Djakarta Cemetery. Son of George and Harriet Birchall of Mottram Road, Hyde.
L/Cpl Andrew Breeze (Mercian Regiment) – a former pupil at Audenshaw School and member of the Church Lad’s and Girls’ Brigade at Christ Church, Denton. Killed in Afghanistan on 12 June, 2010, aged 31.
Kingsman Sean Dawson (Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment) from Stalybridge. Killed in Afghanistan on 14 February, 2010, aged 19.
Guardsman Tony Downes (Grenadier Guards). Killed in Afghanistan on 9 June, 2007, aged 20.
Cpl Joseph Etchells (Royal Regiment of Fusiliers) from Mossley. Killed in Afghanistan on 19 July, 2009, aged 22.
L/Cpl Eric Halkyard (Royal Australian Regiment). Came from Moorfield Avenue, Denton, but died in an ambush in Vietnam on 16 January, 1971, serving in the Australian army.
Guardsman John Ronald (Ronnie) Hall (Grenadier Guards). Killed 12 March, 1949, aged 20, during an ambush in Malaya. Lived at 31 Quickedge Road, Mossley.
Gunner Wilfred Hewitt (Royal Artillery) from Dukinfield. Died at the Battle of the Imjin River, during the Korean War. Lived at 61 Astley Street. Aged 31.
L/Cpl Dennis Higginbottom (Royal Ulster Rifles). Died in Palestine 30 October, 1946, aged 20. Lived on Queens Road, Ashton.
Cpl Harvey Holmes (Mercian Regiment) from Hyde. Killed in Afghanistan on 2 May, 2010, aged 22.
Driver Leslie Hunt (Royal Corps of Signals) from Denton. Died in Palestine 4 June, 1946.
Signalman Peter Norman Latham (Royal Signals attached to 5th Inniskilling Royal Dragoon Guards). Died in an accident in Korea on 16 December, 1951, aged 21. Mother lived on Stockport Road, Denton.
Sgt Mark Stansfield (Royal Logistic Corps) from Hollingworth. Died in Iraq on 21 September, 2007, as the result of an accident.
AB Sam Winterbottom (Royal Navy). Died 22 October, 1946, serving in the destroyer HMS Saumarez which hit a mine in the Straits of Corfu. His parents lived on Appleby Avenue, Hyde.

If you know of any forces personnel from Tameside who died on active service and whose names are not featured on the memorial, e-mail details to jim.fitzpatrick@tameside.gov.uk or write to him at the Council Offices, Wellington Road, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 6DL.