I AM writing to request the help from any relatives of combatants from Milnthorpe who died in the First World War.

As part of the village's commemorations of the centenary of the Armistice which, officially, ended the fighting, the parish council and representatives of the Royal British Legion are arranging for relatives of the 'fallen' to lay a wreath (which will be provided) when each name is read out at a ceremony at the war memorial on the village green at 2.30pm on Sunday, November 11.

So far we have been able to contact the relatives of 17 out of the 21 fallen who are described, on the memorial, as 'Milnthorpe Lads'.

The four names whose families we have not yet traced are: Edward Mashiter, Edward H. Parker, John Parker and James S. Punchard.

In time for the ceremony another name will be added. He was Trooper Harry Bond who, as his widow often recalled, 'fell' in Mesopotamia (Iraq) in 1916.

He joined up in Milnthorpe but unfortunately his name was omitted because, it was said, 'he had been born at Endmoor'. His grandson will lay the belated tribute to him.

If anyone can help fill in the gaps please contact me at The Smithy, Ackenthwaite, Milnthorpe, LA7 7DH, or telephone 015395 63694.

Roger K. Bingham

Ackenthwaite