A WAR memorial once thought lost is set to be re-dedicated this weekend.

The plaque dedicated to the fallen of the First World War was from the former St John’s Church in Darwen, but had been assumed lost for a number of years.

However it was found at St Peter’s School, just a couple of hundred yards from where the church had been, last year.

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It was hanging on a wall in the old main entrance, now a storage cupboard, and was subsequently moved in to the school’s assembly hall and used as part of the 2014 Remembrance Day celebrations.

But it has now been moved in to St Peter’s Church and will be re-dedicated at 2.30pm as part of the town’s Remembrance Day Celebrations.

David Stephenson, curate at St Peter’s Church, said: “The memorial forms part of a narrative of the community of Darwen.

“Every mill and factory sent their boys to fight for King and country. These are people who grew up and worked in this area.

“The memorial tells the story of the town which is why we felt it was important to be on display publicly. It’s a reminder of the people who were committed to peace and freedom and made the ultimate sacrifice.”

The guest of honour at the service will be Kath Farnworth, minutes secretary of the Friends of Darwen Library, who helped track down the memorial and whose three great uncles, the Greenhalgh brothers, are commemorated on it. Representatives of the British Legion will also be there.

Cap Cecil Bullough unveiled the memorial in 1920. It had been paid for by the Bullough family, who lived at Moorside, Astley Bank, and who ran Waterside Mill. His brother, Major C B Bullough, died in action and two other brothers survived the war.

The memorial will be displayed alongside commemorations from Holy Trinity, formerly St Peter’s, and St George’s Church.

Before making its way to St Peter’s School, it had been moved to the former St John’s School after St John’s Church had been demolished.