The Wigginton war memorial

A number of roads in Wigginton are to be named after local military heroes.

Lichfield District Council is trying to trace the relatives of ten men to ask permission for the move at the new Browns Lane housing development.

The Wigginton war memorial
The Wigginton war memorial

One of the roads will be named Memorial Drive, while another will bear the name of Private Samuel Parkes VC, who won the Victoria Cross for bravery in the Charge of The Light Brigade during the Crimean War in 1854. The others are World War One heroes Private William Adie, Private Sidney Bird, Private Charles Carter, Private John Elson, Driver Richard Shaw and Driver Walter Smith, and the World War Two hero Leading Aircraftman S Edden. All of the names feature on a local war memorial.

The council is also looking for family members of Robert Antony Lycett who founded Lycett’s Engineering and fought in the Second World War in the 7th Parachute Regiment, helping to hold Pegasus Bridge in Normandy in 1944.

They are also trying to trace relatives of Harold Patrick Hodgetts, who was a longstanding member of Wigginton and Hopwas Parish Council and Lichfield District Council.

Councillor Chris Spruce, Cabinet member for finance and democracy at Lichfield District Council, said: “This is a lovely way to pay tribute to Wigginton’s brave soldiers and local heroes.

“I hope their relatives will contact us to share their stories and to let us know if they will allow us to commemorate these important men in this way.”

Anyone with information can contact Roberta Whittaker on 01543 308763 or email [email protected] before March 29.

Founder of Lichfield Live and editor of the site.