Chorley war memorial history display (From Chorley Citizen)

Chorley war memorial history display

8:00am Sunday 13th January 2013 in News

An exhibition at the entrance to Chorley Library features the history of the town’s War Memorial in Astley Park.

The display, put together by Steve Williams, project manager of the Chorley Remembers scheme, will show the memorial – a simple Celtic Cross installed in 1919, its official opening and unveiling along with the adjacent arch in May, 1924.

The story continues through to the names of all the fallen being added to the site in November last year.

After completing the display, Steve Williams said: “There are quite a few photographs around of the war memorial and arch since the 1919, even a short film from 1924.

“We would welcome any photographs of the site, as well as further details and photographs of the 738 men named on the walls behind.”

Mr Williams also has an opinion of people calling the Chorley structure a Cenotaph.

He said: “I was told off for calling it a Cenotaph last year by a local vicar and former Army chaplain.

“A Cenotaph is an ‘empty tomb’ and comes from the Greek kenotaphion meaning ‘empty’ and taphos meaning ‘tomb’.

“As the structure in Astley Park is a simple cross with no ‘empty tomb’, it cannot officially be called a Cenotaph.”

The display in Chorley Library is on until the end of the month, while the group can be contacted on 0845 467 1916 or via their website www.chorleyremembers.org.uk.