Dear Editor,

THE last few weeks have been very difficult times for all of us in one way or another, the loss of relatives or friends the hardest to bear. Reference to the ‘war’ against the virus has often been mentioned and the community spirit shown within communities has shone through in so many ways.

The 100th birthday of ‘Captain Tom’ brought back to memory that at the time of his birth, people across the country were remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice during the First World War. Memorial crosses were erected in every city, town and village and the area we now know as Harlow was no exception. In the intervening years other names have been added following other conflicts and the memorials, one hundred years later have remained a permanent reminder of those that were lost.

There are four crosses in the town:

Netteswell

The memorial was unveiled on Sunday 1 February by Brigadier-General R B Colvin CB MP. He said that over 70 men from the small Parish had gone to war of which 5 had received decorations, including one of those who never returned home. The 1st and 10th Troops of the Boy Scouts, the Netteswell church choir and local school children were formed up around the cross during the ceremony. The names of 12 men were inscribed on the cross, with a 13th put on at a later date.

Old Harlow

Standing 11’ high, the memorial was unveiled on 18 April 1920 by Lord Lambourne CVO Lord Lieutenant of Essex, following a public collection which raised £419 5s. A very large crowd had gathered for the ceremony, after which buglers from The Essex Regiment sounded ‘The Last Post’.

Potter Street and Latton

Standing 12’ high, the memorial was unveiled on Sunday 16 May by Brigadier General R B Colvin CB MP. The ceremony concluded amid an impressive silence during which ‘The Last Post’ was sounded by buglers of The Bedfordshire Regiment followed by the ‘Reveille’.The names of 32 men from the area are inscribed on the cross.

Great Parndon

The memorial was unveiled on 30 May 1920 by Colonel Tom Gibbons, late of The 5th Battalion of the Essex Regiment. He said that over 50 men from the area had gone off to war, over half had been wounded and 9 men, whose name are inscribed on the cross, never returned home.

When this country comes out of this current ‘war’ I do not think it is unreasonable to suggest that it would be fitting if some sort of permanent memorial is created in memory of all those who worked in the NHS and other front line services who have lost their lives whilst trying to keep the rest of us safe.

Nicholas Taylor