I REFER to the story ‘Plaque honouring war heroes found’ (Echo, January 28).

It is marginally better that the war memorial was dumped intact rather than reduced to hardcore.

As memory recedes from the horror days of the First World War, there are increasing dangers that similar memorials will be lost.

This will occur as buildings take on new uses, with the predation by metal thieves, and I even know of a church whose vicar refuses to reinstall the parish memorial in his church because he feels it inappropriate.

I am pleased the recently recovered memorial is in the good hands of the Bournemouth council’s bereavement services.

It will now, no doubt, be better respected.

But as more are likely to be discarded, should there be a suitable repository instituted for such memorials? In theory, we already have a Temple of Resurrection at Bournemouth’s parish church, which was intended to be a shrine.

Someone recently asked why only the killed are listed on such monuments, when so many of the survivors lived a life of hell with physical and mental disabilities. A good point. Honouring the dead, at least, focuses on the sacrifices made, and their memorials deserve respect.

War memorials take on many forms: not only the usual slabs and plaques, but buildings, statues and stained glass windows.

As we engage on remembrance of the First World War, this will be an opportune time to record all the known memorials.

A list of names already exists for the Bournemouth area, but we lack a photo-record.

I would wish to create as complete a record as possible of every memorial in the borough and would welcome information and access from the various churches, office buildings, or wherever, to establish an enduring archive.

Even photos of vanished memorials are important.

JOHN CRESSWELL, Flat 3 Sail Point, 24 St.Catherines Road, Bournemouth, BH6 4BD