Compiler’s Acknowledgement

Lieutenant Colonel Terry Boxall prompted by the Chairman of the Council Mrs Iris Butler, commenced the project in 1976. In his words;

The suggestion that I should write this roll was made at the Ceremony of Light on Remembrance Sunday in November 1976. I did not fully appreciate at that time what would be entailed, but I am not sorry that I accepted the task. It has enabled me to meet many people and to become, albeit for a very short time, part of their lives. I hope that I may through this Roll, have rekindled a sense of pride sacrifice made by those whose names appear on it.

I wish to record my grateful thanks to all those people who have helped me in my work. My thanks are due to all who volunteered information, or gave it so readily when I asked, and in particularly to those who have given their time and effort to find out more details for me, especially:

The Librarian MOD Central Library

The Army Records Centre, Hayes Middlesex

AR9, Royal Air Force, London

HMS Centurion, Gosport

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Maidenhead

The Staff of the Commandant General, Royal Marines

The Birmingham Central Reference Library

The Salop County Library

The Library Staff, The Shropshire Star

The General Register and Record Office of Shipping and Seamen

Regimental Headquarters and Record Offices all over the Country

The Curator, KSLI Museum

The High Commissions of Australia, Canada and New Zealand

The South African Embassy

Mrs Sadie Wyatt of Dawley

Mr Harry Percy of Malinslee

Mr Percy Evans of Coalbrookdale

The Reproduction Section, COD Donnington

The office Staff of Headquarters, COD Donnington

Lieutenant Colonel T J Boxall

Above all, my wife, who has visited with me churches and cemeteries, checked drafts and proofs and helped me by her patient encouragement.

In this online version our thanks go to Luke Clarke of the Co-operative Council and Commercial Delivery Team, whose patience and accuracy were a necessity and to Adam Winsper, ICT Specialist Developer for his mastery of code. Without either contribution this electronic version would not exist.

There are a number of records incomplete where details have proven too elusive to unearth. We call on the people of Telford and Wrekin for any insight or assistance that can be given to finish this fine and important record. In the mean time, it is our hope that the Roll of Honour, whilst not completed to full satisfaction, will serve as a reminder to those of the present, about the sacrifice of those of the past, that was made to protect and safeguard theirs and their families future.

Cllr Kevin Guy, Chair, Telford and Wrekin Armed Forces Community Covenant Partnership