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BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Sutton Coldfield Sikh memorial founder 'elated' by King's honour
A man who established the UK's first memorial to Sikhs who served in both world wars has been recognised for his voluntary work in the King's Birthday Honours Jagjit Singh Sohal from Sutton Coldfield has been appointed an OBE for services to the commemoration of Commonwealth soldiers who served Great founded the World War One Sikh Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire in 2015, and has since contributed to other local monuments for Sikhs - promoting their roles in past said he was "humbled and elated" by the news, adding that it had been "the honour of my life" to commemorate Sikhs who so that their memory lives on forevermore". "The valour of the Sikhs in particular inspired me to join the Army Reserve, to deploy on operations and fight for my country and create the national WW1 Sikh Memorial," the 42-year-old said."My hope is that young people from diverse socio-economic backgrounds like mine are inspired by those who serve, to take a stand for the freedoms we cherish today."Mr Sohal said he had also created and delivered educational programmes and events for people from diverse backgrounds to learn more about the Sikh contribution during the wars and continued service in modern 2017, he said he was invited to join the board of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's charitable foundation and earlier this year represented it at the unveiling of a new memorial to African Labourers from Cape Town, in South Africa, at Coventry Cathedral for VE Day 80th anniversary celebrations. Other Staffordshire honours recipients include:Emma Mary Bridgewater, founder of Emma Bridgewater Pottery, is appointed a DBE for services to ceramicsSean Allen Whinray, of Stafford, senior support officer at the Staffordshire Lieutenancy, is appointed an MVO (Member of the Royal Victorian Order) for services to the CrownMichael Charles Mellor, of Cannock, coordinator of the Miners Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum, is appointed an OBE for services to heritage and to recognition of the mining communityDr Diane Swift, of Burton upon Trent, a trustee of The Creative Learning Partnership Trust, is appointed an OBE for services to educationProf Sharon Arkell, of Burntwood, Dean of the Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing at the University of Wolverhampton, is appointed an MBE for for services to higher educationRachel Daly, of Tamworth, is appointed an MBE for services to association footballJohn Ian Davies, of Stafford, Associate Professor of Biomedical Science Practice at Staffordshire University, is appointed an MBE for services to the NHS diagnostic pathology service and biomedical science educationSaffron Fern Lane, of Pattingham, lately captain of the GB Women's Ice Hockey team, is appointed an MBE for services to sportGraham Lee, of Tamworth, Chair of the Statfold Narrow Gauge Museum Trust Ltd, is appointed an MBE for services to heritage railway preservation and charityGareth Brian Moss, of Alrewas, Chair of Trustees for the John Taylor Multi-Academy Trust, is appointed an MBE for services to educationElisabeth Brownlees, of Tamworth, a foster carer for the Birmingham Children's Trust, is awarded a BEM for services to foster careGavin Brownlees, of Tamworth, a foster carer for the Birmingham Children's Trust, is awarded a BEM for services to foster careAndrew David Buttery, of High Offley, a volunteer for Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service, is awarded a BEM for services to the community in StaffordshireValerie Neale, of Stonnall, is awarded a BEM for services to the community in StonnallTracey O'Flaherty, of Stafford, is awarded a BEM for services to the community in Staffordshire Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Daily Record
12-06-2025
- General
- Daily Record
Commonwealth war graves in Ayrshire tidied up by volunteer
Commonwealth war graves in Mauchline Cemetery had been taken over by a crop of daisies which are believed to have been planted by a well-intentioned member of the public Commonwealth war graves in Ayrshire have been tidied up by a community volunteer. Four graves at Mauchline Cemetery have been brought back life after an unruly crop of daisies took hold. A volunteer from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) got to work recently to remove the flowers which are believed to have been planted by a well-intentioned member of the public. Although the CWGC welcomes a number of non-permanent acts of remembrance at gravesides such as fresh flowers and wreaths, they ask that nothing permanent be added as "it impacts our ability to maintain the graves and headstone borders". Commemorated by the graves are Rifleman Lindsay Maxwell, Lieutenant Reginald John Coombes, Able Seaman Lewis MacDonald of the Canadian Merchant Navy and Polish soldier Wladyslaw Dawidowski. The four men each served during World War 2 and died in service between 1941 and 1946. Rifleman Maxwell, a member of 13th Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), died February 20, 1941. His age is unknown. Able Seaman MacDonald was assigned to the SS St Malo of the Canadian Merchant Navy and died aged 24 on June 22, 1941. Lieutenant Coombes, Pioneer Corps, died aged 53 on June 22, 1943. Szeregowiec (Polish for Private) Dawidowski was on of many Polish soldiers who were stationed in Scotland during the war and died aged 21 on April 1, 1946. He is one of two Polish soldiers buried in Mauchline along with Porucznik (Polish for Lieutenant) Karol Dilling, A spokesperson for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission said: "We're grateful for this being brought to our attention. It shows people care about what we do and why we do it, in caring for graves of the fallen. "We inspected the cemetery last week and pruned some of the plant life. No further action is planned from us." Mauchline Cemetery is cared for by East Ayrshire Council but the memorial headstones and the war graves are maintained by the CWGC.
Daily Record
06-06-2025
- General
- Daily Record
Commonwealth Stone erected in Hartwood Cemetery to remember World War One soldier
Thanks to the dedication of the Friends of Hartwood Paupers Cemetery, Patrick Tierney's service and sacrifice have finally been recognised. In a moving moment of remembrance and reconnection, the volunteers of Hartwood Paupers Cemetery came together today to honour a World War One soldier who had long been forgotten. Thanks to the dedication of the Friends of Hartwood Paupers Cemetery, the persistence of Rhona Barr and the compassionate efforts of Scott Cumming and Sehar Sardar from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), Patrick Tierney's service and sacrifice have finally been recognised. A 90kg granite headstone now stands proudly in the cemetery, bearing his name—a lasting tribute to a life once lost to history but now permanently etched in memory. 'Today was one of those rare moments that truly touch the soul,' said one of the volunteers from Friends of Hartwood. 'Though Patrick's journey ended long ago, this moment felt like the beginning of a new chapter, one of remembrance, reconnection, and the rediscovery of family.' Patrick Tierney, believed to have lived out his final days within Hartwood Asylum, was previously buried without recognition in a paupers grave. The installation of his headstone marks not just a correction of historical oversight but a restoration of dignity and honour. In a powerful turn of fate, members of Patrick's family, previously unaware of their ancestor's story, will travel from Ireland to Hartwood this August for a special commemorative service being arranged by Sehar Sardar of the CWGC. This emotional reunion will see Patrick Tierney finally acknowledged not only by the wider public, but by his own descendants. 'He is no longer forgotten. He is home in our hearts,' said the Friends group, reflecting on the journey that began with the discovery of one of their own family's descendants, Private Robbie MacDonald, Royal Scots, who was laid to rest in Villers Station Cemetery, France. The upcoming August service will be open to the public, with further details to be announced in the coming weeks. The community is invited to attend and bear witness as one family, and one village, bringing a once forgotten hero out from the cold.
Telegraph
05-06-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Battle of Britain pilot's grave identified 85 years later
On Wednesday, a rededication ceremony took place at the gravesite, with a new Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone with his name placed. The service was conducted by Reverend Squadron Leader Jonathan Stewart and attended by relatives of Flying Officer Cox as well as the Dutch historian who made it happen. Andy Saunders, a Battle of Britain historian and author, said: 'The identification and marking of the grave site of Flying Officer Philip Cox highlights the fact that, 85 years after the Battle of Britain, a full one-third of the casualties of that battle remain officially unaccounted for.' Flying Officer Cox was born in Brighton in July 1915. During the Battle of Britain, he claimed a Me109 and shared in the destruction of another on July 20. On July 27, he led a squadron into a dog fight over Dover Harbour when he was shot down in Hurricane P3808. He was 25 years old. His mother, Winifred, a widow by this time, wrote a letter to the mother of a colleague of her son. She wrote: 'I have bad news. Philip lost his life last Saturday July 27th while leading the squadron into an engagement off the Southeast coast during the squadron leader's absence. 'The squadron had moved to Gravesend two days previously. Phil phoned me to meet him at Shoreham on Sunday the 21st – his birthday – after tea which I did and I took him back on Tuesday midday and saw him take off. '[His brother] Bob also turned up unexpectedly on Monday, so for the last time here we had the children all together. 'I had a very nice letter from his Squadron Leader this morning. I feel he is with my husband who was very devoted to him. Phil always enjoyed himself so much at your house. 'Thank you for being so nice to him.' Her other son, Robert, was killed four years later when the minesweeper he was on was sunk in the English Channel. During the Battle of Britain, 179 RAF airmen were lost at sea and not recovered.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Battle of Britain pilot's grave identified 85 years later
The lost grave of a Battle of Britain hero has been identified 85 years after he was shot down over the English Channel. Flying Officer Philip Cox was killed when his Hurricane was attacked by German fighters in July 1940. RAF colleagues said they saw his aircraft plunge into the sea off Dover. Cox was listed as missing in action and his name was later added to the Runnymede Memorial in Surrey. Weeks after his death, an airman's body washed up on a beach in Holland and was recovered by the Germans. It was then buried in a cemetery at Bergen-op-Zoom under a headstone with the words 'Known unto God'. Earlier this year, a historian in Holland researching Second World War records kept by the occupying Germans found clues that pointed to the unmarked grave being that of Flying Officer Cox. The records for the grave plot gave a partial service number recovered from the body, which matched that of Cox. On Wednesday, a rededication ceremony took place at the gravesite, with a new Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone with his name placed. The service was conducted by Reverend Squadron Leader Jonathan Stewart and attended by relatives of Flying Officer Cox as well as the Dutch historian who made it happen. Andy Saunders, a Battle of Britain historian and author, said: 'The identification and marking of the grave site of Flying Officer Philip Cox highlights the fact that, 85 years after the Battle of Britain, a full one-third of the casualties of that battle remain officially unaccounted for.' Flying Officer Cox was born in Brighton in July 1915. During the Battle of Britain, he claimed a Me109 and shared in the destruction of another on July 20. On July 27, he led a squadron into a dog fight over Dover Harbour when he was shot down in Hurricane P3808. He was 25 years old. His mother, Winifred, a widow by this time, wrote a letter to the mother of a colleague of her son. She wrote: 'I have bad news. Philip lost his life last Saturday July 27th while leading the squadron into an engagement off the Southeast coast during the squadron leader's absence. 'The squadron had moved to Gravesend two days previously. Phil phoned me to meet him at Shoreham on Sunday the 21st – his birthday – after tea which I did and I took him back on Tuesday midday and saw him take off. '[His brother] Bob also turned up unexpectedly on Monday, so for the last time here we had the children all together. 'I had a very nice letter from his Squadron Leader this morning. I feel he is with my husband who was very devoted to him. Phil always enjoyed himself so much at your house. 'Thank you for being so nice to him.' Her other son, Robert, was killed four years later when the minesweeper he was on was sunk in the English Channel. During the Battle of Britain, 179 RAF airmen were lost at sea and not recovered. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
