L/Cpl Paul Muirhead and the Stratford-upon-Avon War Memorial

[handysnaks]

Lance Corporal Paul Muirhead died from wounds sustained during a Taleban attack on his base at Musa Quala in Helmand Province on Friday 1 September 2006.

I don't believe that he was born in Stratford but he went to Stratford Hugh School, worked in Stratford prior to joining the Army and his parents live in Stratford-upon-Avon and pay council tax to that council.

Pauls father asked the loccal RBL if Pauls name could be placed on the Stratford war memorial. He was told that as he was not born in Stratford it was not possible. After explaining Pauls history in Stratford the RBL official said he would have to contact the council. A year later, no response and no name on the memorial :ugh:

There is a facebook group with regard to this local issue.

Get L/Cpl Muirhead on the Stratford-upon-Avon War Memorial (http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/group.php?gid=122811254195)


For those of you that do this, could you please take a bit of time to join the group (if you support the cause ).

Thanks

Andy

[woptb]

Bump.
Disgraceful attitude from the local council.We could do with a contact to email & complain.

[Duncan D'Sorderlee]

Just to show that not all councils are as hard nosed (or ignorant); the name of Flt Lt Allan Squires RAF - the Captain of Nimrod MR2 XV230 - was added to the Nairn War Memorial earlier this year. The Highland Council were only too happy to oblige (after ensuring that all the details were correct of course). Less than half a dozen e-mails; including those to RBL etc to see who had the authority. Al was not born in Nairn, nor is he commemorated on the Scottish National War Memorial (not yet anyway!); however, he and his family had established roots there and the council were content.

Well done the Highland Council; shame on Stratford.

Duncs:ok:

[ArthurBorges]

I'd sign up for the FB group but FB has been down since the Xinjiang riots, for good local reasons of law & order.

Whoever the dead may be, they had a mother and her contribution to the species deserves acknowledgement she can see, touch and feel.

[November4]

Adding names to a memorial can be difficult as in most cases it is not actually clear who is responsible for the memorial. Although the RBL seem to be considered as being charge, alot of the memorials were actually instigated and maintained by the town councils. The RBL seem to have a say on who should be added to the memorials by default. But...the biggest problem is actually who is going to pay for the name to be added? Local council, the RBL will say it is the other and until you can get someone to agree to the funds then it is unlikly to happen.

When the Chippenham about to be refurbished, the local paper carried an article saying the that RBL were asking for any missing names to be given to the so that the memorial could record all the men who were killed in the 2 wars. As I have carried out some research into the names on the memorial and have identified a number who have been left off for whatever reason, I contacted the RBL. The RBL reps face was a picture at seeing 70 or so names! He said they were expecting 1 or 2. A week later, it was announced that only the names of men would be added if the family asked. In the end 1 from the Great, 2 from the Second and 1 from Iraq were added. Cpl Jones' name was added to the Chippenham (North Wilts) war memorial almost 2 years ago - his connection to Chippenham was that he lived in the town at the time of being killed on the Hercules in Iraq.

Good luck and hope you have more success than I did.

[Wander00]

Same happened in Norfolk over 5AB signals officer who was in the helicopter that was subject to "blue on blue" during the Falklands war. Eventually the parish council gave way. It should not be an issue.

[airborne_artist]

It's reported on the Facebook group that Stratford Council have agreed to place his name on the memorial.

Result, but not before time :ok:

[moosemaster]

I'm not a fan of FB, but it does have its uses.

Well done to all involved.:D

[Wander00]

That's a "result" then. Sometimes sanity and humanity merge. Well done , all

[handysnaks]

yes, thanks to all on this site and others!!:ok: