Council in discussions to have memorial stones displayed at St Mary’s Church
Thatcham Town Council is considering the relocation of old memorial stones, honouring three Thatcham men who fought for the country.
The Victoria Cross memorial stones were laid to mark the feats of three Thatcham Victoria Cross recipients, Second Lieutenant Alexander Buller Turner, Lieutenant Colonel Victor Buller Turner, and Lance Corporal William House.
The Victoria Cross is awarded for most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy.
They were originally placed in the ground in the Thatcham Broadway at a central crossing point.
In 2022 it was suggested that they were recommissioned, moved and raised on plinths in a bid to both preserve them and keep them in a well-attended area.
The recommissioned panels were installed earlier this year and now sit on small plinths at the southern end of the Broadway, on grass.
The original panels were lifted from the central hardstanding in The Broadway and currently are in storage.
Recently, a reverend suggested that the original stones could be placed at St Mary’s Church.
His suggestion was discussed at a Thatcham Town Council town centre committee meeting last week.
The chamber discussed possible locations and logistics and will go back to the church to discuss its ideas.
The town clerk also told the chamber that research would have to carried out in order to find the religions of those that the stones honour.