Ellesmere Town Council recently installed a Silent Soldier in the garden of Ellesmere Town Hall to mark the Centenary of the First World War (1914-18). The conflict, which cost the lives of over 18 million men and women and wounded 23 million people worldwide, ranks amongst the deadliest conflicts in human history.

Ellesmere lost its own share of young men whose names are listed on the plaque in St. Mary’s Churchyard. In 2017 the Town Council added a new name and plaque for Edwin Williams and made improvements on the footpath around the memorial. The Ellesmere branch of the Royal British Legion paid for the memorial to be cleaned.

The Mayor of Ellesmere, Cllr Ryan Hartley, said: “Many local people gave their lives in defence of our country and it is important that we acknowledge our debt to them at this special anniversary and that we remember them.”

The people of Ellesmere have marked the centenary of the World War One in other ways during the last four years. In 2014 the Town Council commissioned a commemorative plaque for the wall of the Town Hall. Only last month, the Friends of Ellesmere Library held a First World War Remembered evening of poetry and music at the Boathouse. Lest We Forget.