A CAMPAIGN has been launched to honour those who lost their lives during both world wars on a new memorial in a Blackburn park.

George Harman, 80, from Whalley, called on Blackburn With Darwen Council last year to erect a new monument listing the names of all the local soldiers killed in both the First and Second World Wars to be erected in Corporation Park, Blackburn.

Private Daniel Ashton, Mr Harman’s uncle, died aged 18 in May 1915, and was the son of John James and Catherine Ashton who lived in Whalley Old Road, Blackburn.

Now the council has backed his call, which he made alongside his friend and neighbour, Mel Diack, as well as the British Legion.

The two men are appealing for the community to help in their bid to build a larger monument in the park which lists the names of more than 3,000 men and women who fell in the Great War. The new memorial would be added on to the existing remembrance garden and memorial.

Mr Hardman said: “I was doing my family tree and I found that my mother’s brother, my uncle, had been killed in the First World War.

“I came to look at the memorial at Corporation Park and I was amazed to see there were no names there. I went to the library to ask where a full memorial was and was told that the borough did not have one. Thousands of local men, and women as well, gave their lives in this war, and we feel there should be a more full and fitting tribute to them, with all the names of the lives lost.”

Mr Diack, 61, said: “These men and women gave their lives for our country and they deserve their names to be read and remembered, and to be a full part of the remembrance garden in the park.”

Council leader Coun Kate Hollern said: “It is extremely important that we remember those brave men and women who made such huge sacrifices for our country.

For more information call Jacques McCaughran on 01254 585448.