A LOCAL artist has spotted a discrepancy between the names on Westbury’s war memorials.
Gary Wellz from Westbury has been working on a picture to commemorate the First World War. He wanted to include a poppy for every Westbury soldier who was lost in the Great War, but does not know the real figure. Gary explained that the list of names that is paired with the memorial at All Saints Church has 92 names, but the plaque on Edward Street has only 91.
Gary said, “Twice I counted the 91 names on the new memorial, but the rededication service read out 92. I try my hardest to get my facts right so I popped into All Saints Church where they were very helpful, and guided me to the record books; indeed there were 92 names.”
The church record shows Albert Edgar Dew, Herbert Dew, and H. Dew, but the memorial plaque omits Herbert Dew.
Online genealogy records show the deaths of a Herbert Dew who enlisted in Salisbury, and a Harry Dew in Warminster, both of whom died in the war. Community area manager Sally Hendry said on behalf of the WW1 working group, “The names were collectively agreed by the group before the stonemason was advised.
“Despite vast amounts of research and cross checking, it was decided not to add any new names to the list as we could not be sure, after all these years, of the origins of those names. There are two H. Dews named on the Westbury Leigh memorial but there was only one on the Westbury plaque; that is how it has been kept.”
Gary would like to know if any White Horse News readers could shed light on the situation. Email news@whitehorse news.co.uk or write to us at 31 Market Place, Melksham, SN12 6ES.
