HomeThe fight to honour Steward John D Stroud.
For thre last quater of a century, Mrs Jean Stroud-Mort has been fighting her own campaign to honour the memory of her husband - Steward John Stroud - who died when HMS Glamorgan was attacked by a land -based Exocet missile in the last shore to ship engagement of the campaign.
"This means so much to us. We have waited 25 years for this moment. It's a very sad time but I am so proud."The Bolton News has followed her struggle to get John's name on the local war memorial in Bolton.
John was only 20 when he died, father to an 8 month old son, John-Paul who on Sunday 10th June, along with his mother, Jean watched the unveiling of a plaque dedicated to John's memory on the Dunscar war memorial in Bolton. Also present were members of the HMS Glamorgan association, Chorley Sea Cadets and military and other guests.
Rev Nigel McCulloch spoke the words of dedication and The Last Post was played.
Prominent in the campaign was Bolton North East MP, David Crausby, who also attended the service. Mr Crausby contacted the War Memorials Trust and Bolton Council, which is responsible locally for the upkeep of war memorials, to press for the addition of Mr Stroud's name.
He also urged local residents to back the family's campaign.
Mr Crausby said: "It's been a long time coming and it's a very satisfying result that John Stroud has been recognised in this way in the place where he came from.
"It's important that we remember people who give their lives for their country and I cannot understand why it is not done automatically."
Lieutenant Commander John Cadman, of the Royal Naval Reserves, who remembered Mr Stroud as an eager 12-year-old Chorley Sea Cadet, also laid a wreath in his honour.. "I will always remember him as a cheerful soul and a happy lad," he said.
After the ceremony, family and guests were invited to The Last Drop Hotel, where John-Paul was presented with the Falklands 25 Commemorative Medal to mark his father's role in the South Atlantic campaign.
The pictures and video footage are courtesy and copyright © The Bolton News.