History group is recording World War Two memories

A community group has been collecting wartime memories ahead of an exhibition later this year looking back at Lancashire and World War Two, writes Beth Mairs.

- Beth Mairs.

The five members of the Ashton 1945 group met through St Michael’s Church in Ashton, brought together by a shared passion for history.

They were especially eager to highlight lesser-known stories from the war and to honour soldiers who may have been overlooked.

They also emphasised the urgency of recording memories.

With many of the war generation no longer around they see it as vital that family members who may be two or three generations down do not hide away the artefacts they have but instead celebrate them.

Each member of the group has taken on a specific role in gathering and organising information.

Jane Parker has been working on expanding Ashton Roll of honour and has compiled all the names from local memorials into a single document and gone a step further by researching each soldier’s rank and regiment.