War heroes remembered once again

The tablets were installed as part of preparations for the Remembrance service

Two memorial tablets to soldiers who served in the Boer and Great Wars have gone on view in a permanent home in Selby.

For many years two stone tablets commemorating members of the Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire who served in the Boer and Great Wars were hidden away from public view.

One memorial recognises those who served in South Africa in the Boer War and one honours those Selby Territorials who served in the First World War.

The stones have previously been kept in Selby Abbey, Selby Armouries and even in the garage of a former town councillor, who handed them to the Town Council for safe storage.

Recent work at Selby Cemetery to provide new storage facilities, meant that an old brick building was demolished.

These bricks were used to raise part of the wall adjacent to the War Graves section of the cemetery and the tablets have been mounted on that wall.

The tablets have been put up next to the cemetery's War Graves section

Veterans of the Prince of Wales's Own Regiment were invited to attend a special dedication service for the memorials.

The Mayor of Selby, Cllr Steve Shaw-Wright says: "I am really pleased the Town Council has been able to provide a suitable public place for the tablets.

"The work undertaken by local builder, Graham Foster, has enhanced the area of the war graves and has provided the ideal location for the historic tablets."

The tablets were installed in time for the 2009 Remembrance Service at the cemetery, during which local schoolchildren lay poppy crosses on the graves of those who have died as a result of conflict.