City of Coventry - Roll of the Fallen - The Great War

[Chris_Baker]

Trevor Harkin, inspired by the hundreds of memorial plaques at the feet of trees planted in Coventry's War Memorial Park, has brought the 1927 Coventry Roll of the Fallen up to date.

Benefiting from sources that have only been available in practical form in relatively recent times (such as "Soldiers Died in the Great War" and the registers of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission), and by trawling other local memorials, press and family contacts, he has added greatly to the stories of over 2500 men of the city and surrounding area. Many of the biographical details are enriched by inclusion of a photograph of the man.

As ever with a work such as this, the individual stories of courage, tragedy and loss of talent are legion. Families left without sons, without husbands, without fathers; in some cases no doubt the end of a family line; men who were leaders, men who were skilled or educated. A loss that had a huge impact on the city of Coventry. Their stories are told through the straightforward presentation of facts, where known, of their background, military details, death and places of commemoration. The author has done a terrific job and is to be congratulated.

The book itself has been produced with the assistance of local solicitors Kundert & Company and sponsorship from Ricoh. It is only available from the author (a member of this forum), who also has a website at www.warmemorialpark.co.uk

This review first appeared on The Long, Long Trail