Bob Ainsworth MP launches appeal to identify forgotten heroes

Bob Ainsworth MP has today launched an appeal to identify soldiers commemorated on World War plaques at the National Express Coventry (NXC) bus depot.

36 soldiers are honoured on the two plaques dated from the First and Second World War. Each person was employed by Coventry Transport Corporation and fell during battle.

Every year NXC supply buses to take war veterans to remembrance events in Coventry, however the identity of soldiers on the plaque is no longer known. Now Bob Ainsworth, former Secretary of State for Defence, is appealing for help in tracking down relatives of the forgotten heroes for a special remembrance event at the garage this Armistice Day.

Bob Ainsworth said: "I was pleased to be asked by National Express to join them in helping to track down relatives of soldiers commemorated on World War plaques at their bus depot in Coventry. Most Coventry people probably do not know the plaques are there and would be delighted to find they have a family member honoured in this way for the great sacrifice they made. It will be a very special event and I really hope that relatives get in touch."

The bronze World War plaques originally hung at Coventry Transport Corporation depots on Sandy Lane and Arnold Lane. They were relocated to the current garage on Ford Street in 1983.

Mark Kipling, Director National Express Coventry, said: "These commemorative plaques have hung at the current Coventry depot for twenty seven years. They were erected in honour of local drivers who fell during the war and ensures their sacrifice will never be forgotten. I expect many of the soldiers still have family in the area and we would love to reunite their relatives with the plaques. It would make somebody very proud to know their father, grandfather, brother or uncle is still honoured everyday for their sacrifice."

If you recognise any of the names please contact Carly O’Donnell at National Express on 0121 460 8867.

Names of soldiers remembered on the plaques are:

On the World War II Plaque	On the First World War Plaque
Reginald Averns	Private T Burdett
Henry Irving Baker	Private A Freckney
George Ball	Private W Foster
John Walter Boyles	Gunner H Hill
Bertie Bradford	Lance Corporal J Hillyer
Reginald Charles Bush	Private E Hughes
Sidney Collier	Gunner W Humphries
Stanley William Elen	Private G P Johnson
Eric Charles Farrar	Private J Kemp
Joseph Gray	Private C Marlow
Henry George Hornby	Private R P Oakley
Robert George Hurrell	Corporal W Over
Arthur Collis Lewin	Private H H Riley
Noel Marsay	Private H J Rottenbury
James Frederick Norton	Private F L Smith
Archibald Owen	Private J T Smith
William Randle	Private F Swingler
John Henry Sullivan
John Harold Yarrow

Published 22nd October 2010