Village of Burston unveils new war memorial
More than 100 years after the end of the First World War, Burston has its own war memorial commemorating the eight men from the village who lost their lives.
An action group made up of district councillor James Easter, parish council chairman Nigel Frankland and Burston resident Peter Rees were behind the idea.
The black, polished, granite slab with silver engraving was mounted on a plinth last Friday – in time for Remembrance Day.
“It was a superb example of a team effort,” said Mr Frankland. “There were many different jobs to be done and everyone pulled together and the memorial was finished on time. It looks really good.”
Mr Rees has undertaken research into the lives of the eight men and has produced a book, which is housed in a cupboard underneath the memorial.
This book will be expanded as the months go by and more information emerges, and there will also be details of the thirty men who served and then returned after the war.
"These men suffered all the horrors of war, and six of then have no known grave," said Mr Rees.
"The least we can do is to provide a memorial that is worthy of them."
The eight men who gave their lives were George William Sandy, William Ernest East, Herbert Garnham, Frederick G Bryant, Edward King Potter, Herbert William Johnson, Gurney Roland Sandy and William Durbidge.
In addition to the funding from South Norfolk Council funding has come from local residents and the Army.
READ MORE: Remembrance Sunday 2019
Jewsons in Diss provided building material free of charge, and forFarmers, who run Burston Mill, provided the oak posts and chains for the surrounding fence.
