Local Heroes

Watch our video

philippa — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:01:33 +0000

Click here to see a short video of the bells being played. Thanks to Sarah Acott for filming this.

Local Heroes on your phone, coming soon!

philippa — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:00:02 +0000

A mobile-friendly mini site is under construction, so you can get a taste of Local Heroes on your smartphone. More details to follow.

Another relative has been in touch

philippa — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:58:37 +0000

It was good to hear from a niece of Charles Fairy. Do you think one of the men named here might be one of your relatives? Do get in touch!

“Only 54 men from the battalion survived.”

philippa — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:13:15 +0000

“By early afternoon the battalion was surrounded by the enemy, but no order was received to withdraw until 5 pm…. When the men were mustered it was found that only 54 had survived.” 2/Lt Herbert Gilbert‘s story is one of those filled in with historical details about the Rifle Brigade kindly provided by Barry Langridge.

Read Albert Acton’s story

philippa — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 10:10:01 +0000

Gunner Albert Acton now has one of the most complete stories thanks to details and photos sent by great-nice Jean Conners. It’s a particularly sad story, as the family lost Albert’s father in the infamous Silvertown Explosion in January 1917, then Albert was killed in action aged 19 in September of the same year.

Read about the bells

philippa — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:18:27 +0000

The latest issue of the War Memorials Trust magazine features the restoration of the memorial bells, as does the forthcoming brochure, Heritage Lottery Fund in London.

Article and photos in Newham Recorder today

philippa — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 08:37:30 +0000

Here’s the article and there is also a photo gallery.

Rededication 19th November

philippa — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 20:36:32 +0000

Thanks to everyone who came and took part in the rededication of the bells as a war memorial on Saturday 19th November. It was particularly good to meet the grandchildren and other relatives of some of the men whose names are remembered on the bells. Photos coming soon.

New photos!

philippa — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 20:45:54 +0000

Excellent photos of Pte James Varley and Sgt John Cavedasca have just been added to Local Heroes. Many thanks to Lorraine Melanaphy and Paul Cavedasca for these.

Olympic Bell Ringing

philippa — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 23:09:45 +0000

The newly-restored Memorial Bells have been signed up to take part in Martin Creed’s Work No. 1197: All the bells in a country rung as quickly and as loudly as possible for three minutes, a piece specially commissioned as part of the London 2012 Festival to welcome the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games on 27 July 2012. Should be able to hear them in the Olympic Park.