Unsung war heroes to finally be remembered

A MEMORIAL will be set up dedicated to those who served in the RAF's Photographic Reconnaissance Units, including heroes from Hyndburn.

- BY YASMIN AL-NAJAR

The Veterans Minister, Al Carns MP, confirmed plans last week in the House of Commons to recognise the unsung heroes of the RAF's Photographic Reconnaissance Units (PRU) had successfully moved to the planning stage.

The campaign has enjoyed significant political backing, with more than 200 MPs from eight different parties supporting the memorial campaign, including Hyndburn and Haslingden MP Sarah Smith.

The Minister was speaking during a parliamentary debate ahead of the 80th anniversary of VE Day, a debate in which several MPs also mentioned the contribution of the PRU in the Allied victory 80 years ago.

While the PRU had many different nationalities serving in it, it was still made up predominantly by servicemen from throughout the United Kingdom.

Among those who served in the PRU were Jack Dearden and George Duckworth.

George Thomas Duckworth was born on July 17, 1924 in Haslingden.

By 1939 he was living at 26 India Street in Accrington and was working as a Cotton Wool Bleacher.

He joined the RAF and trained as a navigator in the RAF Photographic Reconnaissance Units.

He returned to Accrington after the war but there is little of his later life other than he passed away there in January 2005 at the age of 80.

Jack Dearden was born in 1921 in Haslingden, residing with his parents at 7 Manchester Road, Haslingden. He went to university but while there joined the RAF and trained as a pilot.