Each plaque contains the name, rank and regiment of the serviceman along with the theatre of conflict and the year in which he was killed.

For many of the families it proved a very moving and emotional private event; the sense of closure for many was almost tangible as they realised that their loss and the price paid was now being recognised.

Several of the families inserted photographs of their loved ones behind the plaques in very personal gestures.

It as a fitting ceremony for  a memorial that is all about the community and the price paid by its members.

A lot has happened since the last news post.

The Licence from Mansfield District Council for us to manage the land and the planning permission to build the memorial finally went through in January this year. We feared the worst with the bad weather and thought we might lose not only time, but more importantly, the funding from Nottinghamshire County Council. We would like to pay tribute to the way NCC has supported us in this campaign. The Council’s representatives have been excellent ambassadors and have done all they can in tricky circumstances to make sure the memorial is built to to standard, style and quality we know it deserves.

The Fund is now a registered charity, which means we can apply for additional support, help and advice from a variety of sources. We have already made great use of this and will be adding to the Trust’s funds via the War Memorial Commission and it’s VAT return service.

The ground works and first course of stone have been laid for the new memorial. On the 11th of March six out of the seven families with servicemen who will be remembered on the memorial attended a very moving stone laying ceremony at Carr Bank Park. It was a really emotional moment for all of us involved with the memorial to see families thinking about men who had given their lives in Korea, The Falklands, Northern Ireland, and Afghanistan; the poignancy of the span of time between these men paying the ultimate sacrifice was not lost on anyone there.

We are planning an official opening ceremony for the memorial which will probably take place in early summer this year. There will be an open invitation to the people of Mansfield to attend the event, so please do keep in touch.

We cannot express enough our gratitude for the sterling efforts of the supporters in getting us this far. At present we are in discussion with Mansfield District Council and Nottinghamshire County Council about the final placing and design for the memorial. Once we have designs finalised we will be making them available for everyone to comment on.

Hundreds of people are expected to join the families of the first seven me to be honoured on the memorial – see the Roll of Honour page for more details.

More than thirty different wreaths are expected to be laid by Civic leaders, regiments, service representatives, Royal British Legion branches and ex-service associations.

Pleasley Colliery Welfare brass band will be playing music from 10am onwards and will provide the bugler for the last post. Pipers from Lincolnshire will play the Piper’s Lament before two minutes silence is observed by the crowd.

The public of Mansfield is being invited to join the service and celebrate the lives of the men and the fantastic achievement that the Town’s communities have made possible with their fundraising.

Please contact us for more information

We are seeking the names of any fallen heroes since the Second World War.

Anyone with information about a Mansfield hero should call Graham Parker on 07977 448 306 or email him at heroes@mansfield-heroes.org.uk or visit the Mansfield Heroes group on Facebook and leave information there.