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MEMORIAL FOR FALLEN 70 YEARS ON
Roll of honour planned at bombed church following outcry over tribute
A MEMORIAL to honour fallen soldiers from the Second World War is to be erected in Soho 70 years after its parish church was destroyed in the Blitz.
St Anne’s church is one of just a handful across the country without a dedicated memorial to its servicemen who fought and died in the struggle against the Nazis, said to be because the Church of England and former clergymen would never stump up the money.
Now the Church is appealing for information from anyone who had family members from the area who died in the war, after announcing that a roll of honour will be mounted in time for Remembrance Day next year.
The original 17th-century church in Dean Street was destroyed by the Luftwaffe’s bombs, which took more 143 lives in Soho, in September 1940. It was rebuilt on the same site as a smaller chapel and hall 18 years ago.
Unreliable records mean that only three serving soldiers from Soho are known to have died during the conflict. They are Private Sidney Rosenfeld, 25, Gunner Samuel Walters, ?22 and Fusilier George Evans, 20. But given the population density of the area at the time, it is believed there could be dozens more.
Former St Anne’s church warden and policeman Ken White, 60, said it was a “disgrace” it had taken so long for the memorial to be erected.
He said: “I can’t think of a single parish in the country that didn’t raise funds and erect a scroll of honour to the war dead within a few years of the end of the war.
“It was an act of dereliction on the part of the Church of
England that they never rallied the local people and raised a memorial.
“We think it’s only right that we properly remember the armed services of the Second World War and the men and women who died in the Blitz.”
The commemoration is planned for
September 24 2010 on the 70th anniversary of the destruction of St Anne’s.
The church will hold a Remembrance Day service on Sunday at 10.45am.
The London Diocese was unavailable for comment. |
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