JUST three miles from the Derbyshire quarry where it was cut, a new memorial to Woofers killed in action will provide a poignant symbol for the families left behind.

The carved sandstone memorial will carry the names of 24 brave men who fell in Palestine, Korea, Northern Ireland and Afghanistan – men who put their lives on the line serving Queen and country since the end of the Second World War.

All of them served with the regiment that has been made up of proud soldiers from Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and, since 1970, Worcestershire.

Poignantly, the memorial, which will overlook the county from its hilltop location in Crich, has been deliberately designed with blank spaces where the names of future men killed in action can be etched.

On Sunday, July 6, this permanent reminder will be unveiled as members of the 2nd Mercian Battalion (Worcesters and Foresters), along with former members of the Sherwood Foresters and Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters, make their annual pilgrimage to their Crich memorial.

Major Paul “Shove” Gilby, commanding officer of C Company of the Woofers, as the regiment is affectionately known, believes it will bring the Crich memorial up to date.

He said: “We may now be called the Mercians but we are and always have been Midlands boys from the heart of the country and this local monument, crafted by local people carrying the names of local boys, will act as a permanent reminder of the ultimate sacrifice that they made. In Derby Museum, there are two books which carry names of all 11,409 Sherwood Foresters killed during World War One and the 1,520 who fell in World War Two.

“The new memorial at Crich will carry the names of the 24 who have lost their lives since 1945.”

Five of those names are of Derbyshire men.

Private Maurice Lee, from Normanton, was 18 when he died in Palestine in 1947 and 20-year-old Private Martin Jessop, from Chaddesden, was killed in Northern Ireland in 1982.

Drummer Thomas Wright, 21, from Ripley, Private Brian Tunnicliffe, 33, originally from Ilkeston, and Private Ben Ford, 18, of Chesterfield, all lost their lives fighting in Afghanistan last year.

Pte Ford's parents, Trevor and Jane Ford, along with his sister, Emma, will be there in Crich to see the memorial unveiled.

Mrs Ford said: “Although it will probably be quite emotional for us, we don't have any trepidation about being there.

“We are incredibly proud of what our son did and will be taking down a posy of flowers in the regiment's colours to place next to his name.

“The new memorial will be fantastic and a lasting tribute to those boys who put down their lives fighting for us all.”

Wendy Lings, sister of Pte Tunnicliffe, said that her family were still too pained by their loss to be at the unveiling ceremony.

She said: “Brian's death is still very raw for us and the first anniversary is very much in our minds.

“We have spoken at great lengths about being there on the day but we have decided that it will probably be too sad for us and so we have decided not to go.

“The memorial is a really great idea but it is just one of those things that, even after all these months, we are still grieving Brian's loss.”

Alan Derbyshire, chairman of the Derby branch of the Sherwood Foresters' Association, believes that Crich will be enhanced by the new memorial.

He said: “I think it is quite a nice idea and will just add to what is already there.

“I have seen a photo of it and I believe it is something that people who get to see it will certainly remember.”

The Stancliffe sandstone from which the memorial is made was taken from Darley Dale and the memorial was designed by Smith and Roper Architects, in Bakewell.

It was then sent to RMH Eaton stonemasons, in Alport, near Bakewell, to be cut and sawn before each name was carved into it by the firm of L. Petts, of Middleton-By-Wirksworth.

At 2.5m long and 1.7m high, the 1.15-tonne structure is made up of 19 stones.

Stonemason Mark Heaton said: “We are honoured to be involved in the construction of this memorial to the Mercian regiment and their forebearers.”

Architect Ben Roper said he was delighted with the finished article.

He said: “I am a trustee up at Crich and it was certainly a very interesting project to work on. It is one of those jobs that you know has been done for a very worthwhile cause and I hope the regiment see it as a fitting tribute.”

Former Sherwood Forester Cliff Housley served with the regiment from 1956 to 1970 – when it changed its name to the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters – and is now regimental historian.

For the past 30 years, the 69-year-old has painstakingly tracked down more than 85,000 former and currently serving members of the regiment.

He said: “Crich is a very emotive subject among former Foresters and it has always been a memorial that has never carried individual's names.

“I do know that opinions were divided about whether the new memorial should.

“Personally, I believe it carries the name forward and brings things into line with the regimental family that is now the Mercians.”

Private Mark Henshaw, of Ilkeston, is currently serving in A Company of the Woofers.

His mother, Jo Henshaw, believes that the new memorial is an excellent idea.

She said: “I think it is so important to have something to remember the boys by.

“It shows them that we appreciate and respect the sacrifice that these young, brave men have made for their country.”

Major Gilby said he believed that it was only appropriate that as the regiment changed its cap badge last September, the memorial at Crich should be brought up to date.

He said: “People see a memorial and it automatically makes them think about the First and Second World Wars.

“But their relevance is as much about the young local men who join up and put their lives on the line for their country.”