Remembering Fallen Family.

Sunday the 13 th November is Remembrance Sunday and it is a big day for the Hill Family from Wednesfield.

Last year just after Christmas two of the family including myself, visited Singapore and found the grave of Gunner Frank Hill who aged 22 died defending Singapore from the Japanese in 1942.

It was the first time any members of the Wednesfield family had visited the grave to our knowledge, it was a very moving moment and a very emotional one as Mary Bateman and Robert Hill stood over their Uncles grave in Kranji.

On return from that visit we informed the greater family and pictures were posted on www.philbateman.com.

Later in the year (2011) metal thieves stole the war memorial in the Wednesfield Garden of Remembrance, it was a dire theft of a memorial. It was a theft that angered Wednesfield people. It was clear that it had to be replaced, and the
Royal British Legion and Wolverhampton City Council agreed with those thoughts.

But the theft also gave an opportunity to make a place on the replacement plaques of the war dead of Wednesfield families that had been left off the original stolen ones.

I joined with the Royal British Legion Wood End to campaign for this action, and was later joined in the search for Wednesfield families that matched the criteria, by Emma Reynolds MP. Between us all we identified five extra service personnel and their names are now recorded on the plaques They will be publicly honoured for the first time when the Remembrance Day service is held in Wednesfield on Sunday.

A wreath will be laid for the first time to honour Gunner Frank Hill, this will be carried out by his nephew also named Frank Hill who was named after him, though never met him.

It will be a poignant and moving moment for the Hill family, and they will gather together for this memorial service giving thanks to his courageous service with others of his generation for our freedom today, and the democracy we all hold dear!

Phil Bateman is Married to Mary (nee Hill). - Gunner Frank Hill was Mary's fathers brother.