More relatives of Edgware and Burnt Oak's World War Two dead this week joined calls for Harrow Council to add names to its war memorial.

Alan Coster, 63, of Edwin Road, Edgware, said his father Sydney, a private in the South Staffordshire Regiment, was killed during the Indian campaign in April 1944 aged 27. His wife Mary, now remarried still lives in Burnt Oak.

Mr Coster said: "My father died for his country while doing his bit and it would be nice if his name was remembered."

Daisy Chenery, whose navy officer brother died during a sea battle, echoed Mr Coster's views.

Alec Bennett was killed at the Battle of St Nazaire a French seaport on the Bay of Biscay in March 1942. Ms Chenery, 76, of Harcourt Avenue, Edgware, believes he was in his late teens when he died.

She visited his grave in France for the first and only time around ten years ago. "It was really emotional. I would just like a memorial for him there's nowhere in Edgware," she said.

"It would be nice to see a plaque or something for all of the boys who fought and were from Edgware. A lot of the names that are not on the memorial look familiar and I would love to see Alec's name there.

"We were one of those families who suffered every year during the war. My eldest brother got taken prisoner of war and then my mother was killed the following year and then Alec. My other brother was badly injured in Burma it was an awful time for us."

November 14, 2001 17:30

IAN LLOYD