DURING this time of remembrance across the country, a County Durham village is paying its tribute to those people who sacrificed the lives in conflicts new and old.
A project is underway in Witton Park to have two names added to the village war memorial stone, which have previously been missed off.
Money is being raised through the Area Action Partnership for a memorial garden, as well as 57 trees to be planted in the village, one for each serviceman from the village who died during the Great War.
A new memorial stone, a replica of the one currently in the cemetery, which has become worn and weathered over time, will be erected in the village centre. The new location has been selected to make the memorial stone easier to visit by the older members of the community.
One of the soldiers missed off the plaque died just after the First World War as a result of his injuries and the other died during the Iraq conflict.
Lance Corporal David Wilson, from Spennymoor, County Durham, died from a gunshot wound in Basra in 2008. He was described as a devoted family man whose life was made complete by the birth of his daughter.
His family have campaigned to add his name to the town's war memorial.
Cpl Wilson joined the Army in 2003 and had also served in Afghanistan with the 9th regiment Army Air Corps. He first worked as a ground crewman in 672 Squadron and was sent to Afghanistan at the end of 2006.
His brother Mike Wilson, said: “We moved to Witton Park back in 1989 and the family have been there for 30 years. The village is much like a family and the whole village stood still for David’s funeral.
“The plaque itself is important to remember those who fought and did not come home, hopefully, David’s name will be the last added to the list in a small village like Witton Park.”
Local historian Dale Daniel said: “To me it is for the recognition that this young man has done what others have done for their country paid the supreme sacrifice and this should never ever be forgotten.”
A similar story took place more than 100 years ago and is that of William Lumley, from Witton Park, who fought in the Great War.
Mr Lumley had died shortly after the war due to complications from wounds sustained during the fight, but he was left off the memorial.
In 1921, when Princess Marie Louise of Belgian visited Witton Park to unveil the 1914-1918 War Memorial Tablet, William Lumley’s daughter presented her with a bouquet.
The princess also thanked Witton Park community because it was one of the first places in the North-East to give the Belgian refugees a home: 170 refugees from Belgium came to live in Witton Park.
The names of both Lance Corporal David Wilson and William Lumley will be included on the memorial.
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