CAMPAIGNERS who aim to remember their military past – and preserve their future – with two missions.

Royal British Legion members have launched plans to construct a wall of remembrance behind Ramsbottom’s cenotaph, beside St Paul’s Church.

And supporters of the Central Street club have now launched a petition in protest at proposals to axe the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.

Back in 1968 the Lancashire Fusiliers, for which Ramsbottom, Edenfield and Stubbins were prime recruiting areas, was amalgamated into the Royal Regiment.

Former fusiliers feature on memorial plaques and cenotaphs across the district and will form the backbone of the new legion initiative.

Acting president Terry Egan said: “Most towns’ war memorials have people’s names inscribed on them and we have come up with our wall of remembrance.”

Researchers have so far come up with more than 380 names of former soldiers, killed in action, missing presumed dead or who died of their injuries later, from the First World War.

Another 50-plus names have been uncovered of those who served in the Second World War, as part of the ongoing military project.

Several servicemen are included on church mem-orials at the likes of St Andrew’s, St Joseph’s, Dundee United Refor-med, the former Park Independent and Dundee Presbyterian.

Others have been culled from old mills and fact-ories dotted around the area.

Those born in the Ramsbottom area or who made their home there qualify for the wall of remembrance.