A ROLL of honour featuring every Nelson resident who enlisted in the Armed Forces in 1915 has been created to replace one lost more than 40 years ago.

The original roll of honour, which featured the names of 1,766 people from Nelson, had been on display since 1915, but was lost when the library moved from Booth Street to Market Street about 1966.

Historian Fred Stringer suggested creating an identical version when he spotted a photograph of the original roll in a local newspaper.

After years of research and hard work, the replica has been completed and returned ‘home’ to the current Nelson Library, in Market Square.

Fred said: “In April 1915 the council decided to produce a roll of honour featuring all the people serving in the Armed Forces.

“They canvassed door-to-door for the names, addresses and regiments they were in and this resulted in getting 1,766 names put on the roll of honour.

“It was placed in the public library in Booth Street but when it closed it was lost and nobody really knows how.

“Then about five years ago I saw a photograph of the roll of honour in the paper with the original list of names.”

With help from County Councillor George Adam, Fred convinced Pendle’s Nelson Committee to support the project to the tune of £2,500.

Despite a number of delays and setbacks, the replica was completed earlier this year and has gone on permanent display at the library.

Allen Jones, from Burnley College, made the roll of honour and Stuart Raith, a graphic designer at Pendle Council, helped with the names and Nelson coat of arms.

Fred said: “They have both made a terrific job – absolutely marvellous.

“Interestingly there are two women’s names on it – Clementine Addinson, who was in the French Flag Nursing Corps and Frances Clarke, who was at the infirmary in Nottingham.

“It has been fustrating work, but we got there eventually.You could say it’s gone back home.”