We will never forget

WE will remember them . . . Maggie Hurley at the war memorial outside Oldham Parish Church

OLDHAM’s World War One soldiers who died from battlefield injuries after returning home are to be remembered in a new project.

Age UK Oldham has received almost £10,000 in lottery funding to research and record the names of possibly hundreds of Oldham soldiers who died from their injuries after the war and whose names never appeared on an official memorial.

The charity wants to have a memorial plaque with their names installed at George Street Chapel in Oldham town centre - which it is currently renovating.

Age UK Oldham also wants help in producing a book about the men, which will raise money for Help for Heroes, the charity which cares for injured soldiers today.

The Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded the Oldham charity £9,900 for the project called Lest WE Forget.

Maggie Hurley, from Age UK Oldham, said: “These Oldham soldiers may have fought for a few weeks or years but all came back injured. In those days, their families had to care for them on return.

“Many had terrible injuries. They were heroes just as much as the soldiers who died in action. They simply gave their lives a few months or years later.”

Age Concern’s early research suggests 250 Oldham men died this way, and Maggie hopes their families will get in touch to provide information. The project will cover deaths up to five years after the war finished.

Contact Age UK Oldham on 0161-622 9252 or email maggie.hurley@ageukoldham.org.uk.