Wartime Heroes & Heroines of Cleator Moor
Photographs:
(Top): Front page of the Cleator Moor 'Roll of Honour'
(Bottom): Dedication of the 'Roll of Honour'
Remembering 'The Fallen' of Cleator Moor, Cumbria.
For additional information click on 'Comments' below.
posted by ritsonvaljos at 10:53 pm
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Additional information
Development of the Cleator Moor 'Roll of Honour'
Unlike most other communities affected by the World War of 1914 - 1918, in the immediate post-war years the town of Cleator Moor did not erect a war memorial or compile a 'Book of Remembrance' for those who had lost their lives. A few short years later - from the mid-1920s to the late 1930s - there was a high rate of unemployment throughout the district. Consequently there was little spare money to consider erecting a war memorial. Other things had a higher priority in the dark years of the inter-war period. Subsequently, immediately following the Second World War of 1939 - 1945 no municipal war memorial was erected for the town as a whole.
Eventually, on Remembrance Sunday, 13 November 2005 a new war memorial was finally dedicated at Cleator Moor. Henceforth, this would be the place where everyone could gather together to remember those from the community who gave their lives in all wars and conflicts.
To read the BBC "People's War" article about the dedication of the Cleator Moor War Memorial click on the following link:
Dedication of the Cleator Moor War Memorial (November 2005)
Following on from that, the Town Council and the community felt there should be a 'Roll of Honour' for the town. Since late 2006 the 'Roll of Honour' has been in the development stage. To read a previous article explaining this click on the following link:
A 'Roll of Honour' for Cleator Moor, Cumbria
The 'Roll of Honour' is now almost ready for publication by the Town Council. The plan is to have a copy on display in the Town Council Chambers, the local library (next to the 2005 war memorial) and in each of the three main churches that serves the district (Church of England, Roman Catholic and Methodist). Initially the document has been published on the Cleator Moor Town Council website. To view this website click on the following link and then follow the links to the Cleator Moor 'Roll of Honour':
Cleator Moor Town Council website
Dedication:
"To the Glory of God and to remember the sacrifices given by those in all conflicts."
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In Grateful Remembrance
The 'Roll of Honour' takes the form of a Book of Remembrance. At the front of the document is the following dedication:
"In the pages of this Book of Remembrance we remember those men and women of Cleator, Cleator Moor and district who gave their lives in the service of their country, protecting Freedom and Justice. We remain proud of these sons and daughters of our land who willingly made the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of others.
Once, the men and women whose names are listed in these pages walked the same streets and knew the same places as those of us who came after them. The least we can do is to cherish the memory and sacrifice of these brave souls of the community of Cleator, Cleator Moor and district and know why we remain free men and women.
We will remember them!"
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'Roll of Honour' summary
As at Remembrance Sunday, 11 November 2012, the numbers listed in the Cleator Moor 'Roll of Honour' in each conflict or service is as follows:
Boer War = 4
WW1 = 241
Inter-war = 1
WW2 (service) = 103
WW2 (civilian) = 2
WW2 (DPs) = 2
Korean War = 1
Post-Korean War - 4
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Total = 358
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The final number of WW1 casualties (241) turned out to be slightly less than had been thought in 2006. The reason or this was because of the large number of spelling discrepancies in the surnames. This had meant that some of the casualties had been counted more than once! Even so, as the above figures show, 2/3 of the total number of casualties from the town occurred during the First World War.
There have been 4 casualties linked to the Cleator and Cleator Moor district since the end of the Korean War. They are also commemorated by the 'Roll of Honour'.
There may still be other casualties who should be included and have yet to be identified. For example, Cleator Moor was the birthplace of a famous mercenary officer, 'Kaid' (Commander) Andrew Belton (1882 - 1970). Some written accounts of Andrew Belton's life and career state that he had two brothers (Patrick and John) who died as the result of the Boer War.
If this is true and they were from Cleator Moor then these two would be eligible for inclusion in the 'Roll of Honour. However, as of November 2012 no firm evidence has been discovered which verifies that they served with the army and lost their lives in the Boer War. Compiling a 'Roll of Honour' is not always a straightforward exercise!
On Sunday 11 November 2012, Remembrance Sunday, Cleator Moor Town Council donated a Book of Remembrance containing all the known casualties casualties to each of the churches serving Cleator and Cleator Moor. The town library and the local history society were also given a copy of the Book of Remembrance.
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This is the 'Act of Remembrance' given at Cleator Moor on Remembrance Sunday, 11 November 2012:
"Let us remember before God, and commend to his sure keeping:
Those who have died for their country in war;
Those whom we knew, and whose memory we treasure;
And all those who have lived and died in the service of mankind.
They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun, we will remember them.
We will remember them".
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Dedicated to:
'The Fallen' of Cleator & Cleator Moor.
"Their Name Liveth Evermore".
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