A POIGNAN T tribute is being paid to commemorate the end of the First World War.

Lostock Gralam villager Graham Cross is erecting 68 wooden crosses in the graveyard at St John the Evangelist Church - one for each of the young men in the parish who lost their lives between 1914 and 1918.

The individual four foot crosses will be displayed during September, October and November.

“I have been associated with this church all my life and often read the 68 names on the roll of honour and wondered where they came from,” said dad-of two Gerald, who has four grandchildren.

“It’s a fairly small parish for 68 men to die. I started researching them for several years. It is quite an absorbing subject.”

After a painstaking scrutiny of records, Gerald managed to find out more details about the fallen heroes.

“Most were in their teens and early 20s,” said retired production manager Gerald, who worked at ICI for 40 years.

“We’ve got three boys from one family.”

Three brothers who lived on Brook Street are commemorated in a family grave.

Thomas and John Connolly both died in Greece in April 1917, aged 25 and 23. Leonard was killed in France in September 1918, aged 21.

Details of each man, including his parents’ names, last occupation, regiment, battalion, rank, number and date and place of death are recorded beneath poppies on each cross.

Samuel Whittaker, the first Lostock Gralam soldier to die in action and one of the first in mid Cheshire, lived on Griffiths Road. He died in France in August 1914, aged 32.

Clarence Jones, from Manchester Road, was the last Lostock Gralam man to be killed in battle. He died in France in October 1918, aged 26.

The parish includes Wincham, Lostock Green and Lach Dennis and men from all these villages are commemorated.

“Seeing all the crosses laid out in the churchyard will create a visual impact which will encourage visitors to learn more about the local young men who lost their lives serving their country,”said Gerald.

“I hope the project will help everyone to realise the enormous sacrifice the young men of the parish made.”

The crosses were hand made by Gerald’s relative Pete Hodgkinson, from Lostock Gralam, who also supplied all the wood.

Anyone with further information about these men can email geraldcross@hotmail.co.uk.