8th May 1949. WW2 fallen remembered at the Loughborough Carillon.
The 80th Anniversary of VE Day has quite rightly been celebrated all over the country, and the Loughborough Carillon has played its part.
76 years ago, on Sunday 8th May 1949, the Carillon staged its own ceremony, of a more serious nature; commemorating those with Loughborough connections who died in service in WW2. Although Loughborough itself was spared the air raids which were unleashed on many neighbouring towns and cities, many Loughborough men and women ‘did their bit’ for the war effort, in the services and on the home front.
Three bronze plaques
Four years after the end of the war it was possible to draw up a list of the WW2 fallen; over 200 men (and one woman). They were honoured on three bronze plaques on the exterior wall of the Carillon. The Mayor, Councillor Lester, and the Bishop of Leicester, officiated at the unveiling, in front of a silent crowd of 4,000.
“Let us be worthy”
“Let their names and deeds be honoured among us for all generations, and let us strive to be worthy of their sacrifice,” said the Mayor. The 5th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment provided the guard of honour, and the Bishop reminded the audience that the WW2 fallen had helped to perpetuate the sacrifices made by their fathers’ generation, to maintain freedom and Christian values.
The Loughborough Carillon website has a WW2 Roll of Honour. As more documentation is released into the public domain, it is possible to discover more about their lives and their deaths. This task is ongoing and the Roll of Honour will be updated in the near future.
