VIDEO: Now we will all remember him
Lance Corporal Ross Nicholls' name to be added to St Mary's memorial
A war hero killed in a road side blast in Afghanistan is to be honoured on a city war memorial – just metres away from where his funeral was held four years ago.
Lance Corporal Ross Nicholls' wife Angela had been battling for almost a year to get his name immortalised on St Mary's memorial in Bletchley and spoke of her pride at finally getting the tribute arranged.
Angela said: "This will be such a proud moment for me, his family and his friends and colleagues. It will be perfect timing as well as we are planning a dedication service of our own later this month which a lot of his regiment colleagues will be attending. I wanted him to be remembered as the hero he was, to not only his family but his colleagues as well."
Ross was killed in 2006 when his convoy was ambushed by the Taliban and the patrol vehicle he was travelling in was hit by rocket-propelled grenades.
He died aged 27, just weeks before son Cameron's second birthday with daughter Erin just 12 weeks old.
Angela said: "I am always reminding the children of Ross and his picture is everywhere around the house. Cameron will do something and I tell him he looks just like his dad. That makes him really proud."
Angela paid special tribute to her dad, Brian O'Sullivan, who initially wrote a letter to the council asking if the special tribute could be made.
She said: "To be honest it's not something that you should have to ask for, the names of heroes should be added to memorials so they can be remembered by future generations.
"It is nice that I will be able to take Cameron and Erin there so they can see daddy's name. It shouldn't have taken so long."
Angela was also quick to praise the British Legion and defend the council, as it was not something that had previously been requested – anywhere in the country.
She said: "The council has been very helpful but the British Legion had to step in to help them as they had never previously dealt with anything like this before.
"They have to make sure that the engraving is done correctly to match the current memorials from the First and Second World Wars."
Angela is now hoping that other war widows can take a leaf from her book and make sure that their loved ones get the respect that they deserve.
She said: "People don't know the services available to them and I urge anyone to visit the Army Widows' Association at www.armywidows.org.uk. They offer great support and advice."
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Weather for Milton Keynes
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -1 C to 2 C
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