Correct name may now go on war memorial (From The Bolton News)

Correct name may now go on war memorial

11:50am Tuesday 9th February 2010 in

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FOR nearly 90 years, Private Thomas Leech has been remembered for his sacrifice — by the wrong name.

But history could be about to change as the names on the war memorial at Horwich Loco Works are re-cut.

The memorial has become so badly weathered that some of names on it are in danger of becoming unreadable, so Horwich Town Council is taking action to honour the men’s legacy.

On the memorial, which was erected in 1921, First World War soldier Pte Leech’s name was spelt incorrectly as Leach.

Following an appeal for information about those listed on the memorial from councillors, the error came to light. Sybil Domican, aged 80, who lives in Horwich, highlighted the mistake with her uncle’s name.

She said: “It would be nice to see it changed to the correct name after all this time, if it is possible. We don’t know why the mistake was made. He was in the Territorial Army, which he joined at 18, and he was killed a year later.”

Pte Leech, who served with the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, was a boiler shop apprentice and a scholar of St Catherine’s Sunday School in Horwich.

He was the son of John and Caroline Leech and lived in Abraham Street.

Horwich Town Council will be able to get a £2,500 grant from the War Memorial Trust towards the cost of refurbishing the memorial.

Town councillors have approved a £5,675 quote to re-cut the names with a protective resin and are now going to ask the stonemason if it will be possible to alter the spelling.

The memorial, which cost £700 when it was built, has the names of 122 fallen soldiers. The council acquired the memorial from Parkfield Castings in 1989.

Cllr Stephen Rock, leader of Horwich Town Council, said: “We are consulting with the stonemason and the War Memorial Trust to see what we can do about this. We are more than happy to put the name right if it can be done.”

amanda.smith@ theboltonnews.co.uk