Military honour guard for the new Little Totham War Memorial
VIPs unveil Little Totham War Memorial
At a special ceremony today (28th June) VIPs including the Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Jennifer Tolhurst DL, the Member of Parliament for Witham, the Rt Hon, Priti Patel, Little Totham Parish Council Chairman & Maldon District Councillor Richard Siddall and Cllr Bob Boyce, Chairman of Maldon DC have today (28th June) unveiled a permanent memorial to the fallen in the First World War. The memorial consists of three steel Tommy figures that have been installed in a small garden of remembrance, next to the village sign.
Speaking during the unveiling ceremony at which she laid a wreath in memory of the fallen, Priti Patel MP said: “The show of emotion and, indeed, passion from so many people across our country on Armistice Day last November, 100 years after the ending of the Great War, demonstrated that those who gave their lives so long ago have not been forgotten. In fact, their memory and the sacrifice they made, burns as brightly as ever in the national psyche.
“Nowhere more brightly than in Little Totham, where the installation of a wooden Tommy, was particularly well supported and received, so much so that the Parish Council decided that there should be a permanent War Memorial and set about raising the funds necessary to make this happen.
“I should like to thank Little Totham Parish Council and, in particular, its Chairman Cllr Richard Siddall and all the individuals, that contributed to the fund that has made this permanent memorial to the fallen a reality. The enthusiasm your village has displayed for this memorial does you great credit and I am very proud that you are a part of my constituency.”
Cllr Siddall said: “I must also give my thanks to everyone who contributed to the memorial fund, without your generosity and support, this memorial would not be here. I would like to express my appreciation to those who have worked so hard to install the memorial. The village and I were also gratified that so many honoured guests could be with us today for the unveiling, helping to make it such a special occasion. The sacrifices so many made for us a century ago should never be forgotten and this memorial is a fitting, permanent tribute to their bravery.”
The ceremony was timed to coincide with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on 28th June 1919, which marked the formal, official ending of the Great War.
