Autumn sunshine bathed a new memorial garden as 29 heroes finally received the tribute they deserved. They all paid the ultimate price for serving their country but their names were never carved on the city's Cenotaphs.
They died in conflicts which came after the end of the Second World War in 1945 - Palestine, Korea, Suez, Malaysia, the streets of Northern Ireland, and Afghanistan. But they had links to the towns which make up the borough of Salford. They were either born in the city, lived or worked there, or are buried there.
An 18-year-old died in one of the most savage battles of the Korean War in a brutally cold winter 72 years ago. Seven were killed while serving during The Troubles in Northern Ireland; and two in Afghanistan.
Today thanks to one man's campaign, a new memorial was unveiled to them. Their names and regiments are embossed on a new brass plaques on a wall behind the existing Cenotaph in Swinton town centre.
It comes a decade after Salford council first promised a review into how to remember every Salford serviceman killed in conflict since 1945 after a plaque was installed in Irlam's Prince's Park to honour Fusilier Simon Annis, 22, who died in Afghanistan n 2009.
Today as well as the unveiling of the Salford Veterans Memorial Garden, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers have dedicated benches to three of their own - Fusilier Annis; Cpl Donald Traynor (Northern Ireland); and Fusilier Alex Bunney (Afghanistan). In addition new benches were also installed in memory of the city's Victoria Cross holders.
The memorial garden has been created by the Salford Veterans Association and supported by Salford City Council. Its aim is to create a year round area for quiet reflection to remember the fallen.
It came to fruition thanks to Glenn Croston, of Salford Veterans Association. Eight years ago he met with a council officer. "I asked if there was a memorial to service men and women who had died post 1945 in action. He said there wasn't but gave me a copy of names he had obtained from the MOD. I did more research by contacting the regiments who were extremely helpful, as were Salford Registry Office," said Glen.
He asked if there could be a monument to the 29 men but was told by the council that due to the Swinton Development Plan which is still being considered they could not erect a memorial. As a compromise a wall already exists behind the Cenotaph and the plaques have been fixed on it.
He also tracked down, with the help of a Manchester Evening News article, the families of the 29 who attended today's service. Salford in Harmony Choir sang and a short service was conducted by Father Jeremy Sheehy and Father Ian Hall.
Lt Col (Retired) M R McDonald, Area Secretary North for the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers said: "It is a great honour to be part of this special project and to be able to commemorate local soldiers and our fallen fusiliers in this way. They all fought with bravery and determination so this is the very least we can do to honour their service and create a lasting memorial for many years to come."
Ceremonial Mayor of Salford, Councillor Ann Marie Humphreys said: "We will continue to work to make sure all of our armed forces heroes are never forgotten. I'd like to thank the Salford Veterans Association for their work in bringing this project to life and with the city counil creating a peaceful space in Swinton."
City Mayor, Paul Dennett, said: "Our thoughts remain with all the families and friends who have lost their loved ones in conflicts that we remember today. It is fitting this new garden is located next to the Swinton Cenotaph to make sure our loved ones will never be forgotten."
One of the names on the plaque will be Warrant Officer Philip Arthur Cross, of the Royal Medical Corps. He was born in Cross Lane in Salford on January 28th, 1958. His family lived on Chapel Street and he attended Clarendon Secondary Modern, where he became Head Boy.
On leaving school, he worked on Salford Market in Pendleton before joining the RAMC Apprentice College in 1973. After passing out from the college, he rose through the ranks and had various postings between the UK and Germany before he was posted to the Military Wing of Musgrave Park Hospital in West Belfast.
On November 2nd 1991 an IRA active service unit got into a service tunnel linking children's wards and the Military Wing of the hospital. A 20lb semtex bomb was planted against security doors. It exploded in the afternoon as patients watched a rugby match on TV in a recreation lounge. Warrant Officer Cross was killed alongside another soldier. He was married with two children.
The 29 whose names will be on the plaque are:
- Sgt Alan Hancock RE Palestine 1948
- Pte Robert Darby RAOC Malaya 1949
- Pte Dennis Higgins Green Howards, Malaya 1949
- Mne John Graham RM Korea 1950
- Cpl Edward Wheeler RUR Korea 1951
- 2 Lt John Maycock GLOSTERS Korea 1951
- Pte William Roberts GLOSTERS Korea 1951
- Pte Edward McGibbon MANCHESTERS Malaya 1951
- Mne James Chadwick RM Malaya 1951
- Fus Ronald Eardley RNF Korea 1951
- Cfn Brian Hitchen REME Malaya 1952
- Pte Thomas Traynor MANCHESTERS Malaya 1952
- Cfn James Glass REME Korea 1952
- Pte Colin Jones RAMC Suez 1953
- Spr Arnold Ashcroft RE Korea 1953
- WOII David Robinson RASC, Cyprus 1959
- SSGT Leslie Bourne RE Aden 1964
- LCpl Ronald Smith RE Aden 1965
- Gunner Robert Cutting RA N. Ireland 1972
- Kgn David Owen KINGS N. Ireland 1975
- Cpl Donald Traynor RRF N. Ireland 1976
- Cpl Leonard Jones PARA N. Ireland 1979
- LCpl Graham Lee RPC N. Ireland 1980
- Fus Alexander Bunney RRF Kuwait 1991
- WOII Philip Arthur Cross RAM N. Ireland 1991
- Rfn Christopher William's RGJ N. Ireland 1991
- LCpl Anthony Claire RLC Bosnia 1997
- LCpl Ivano Violino RE Afghanistan 2007
- Fus Simon Annis RRF Afghanistan 2009
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