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Poignant Memorial Trail launched in Saxmundham

Saxmundham Memorial Trail shines a light on town's fallen WW1 soldiers

A brand new Memorial Trail which is part of the centenary of Saxmundham’s Memorial Field located off Rendham Road, has been launched this month,  prior to the rededication ceremony taking place on the 5th November.

The trail has been researched and designed by a volunteer team of local residents in conjunction with the Town Council.  It documents where the fallen of World War One lived, are commemorated and in some cases are buried in the Town’s Commonwealth War Graves. Residents and visitors can find the trail markers designed by Saxmundham Primary School children placed around the Town.  To enable walkers to read about the lives of the men, each marker has a QR code that links to the Saxmundham Town Council’s website.  A leaflet containing the basic information will also be available from either Saxmundham Museum or Library, or downloaded at the bottom of this article.

The trail was officially launched in the Market Hall during Saxmundham’s popular Saturday Market on 8 October 2022.  View the Trail here.

The trail initiative brings the men commemorated on Saxmundham War Memorial to life.  Each soldier has an individual biography that not only records where he lived, fought and died, but highlights his work and family life.  Visitors to the exhibition will be able to review the research, check out the trail route and ask questions from those involved in the initiative. The biographies are available via the Trail QR code or accessible on the Saxmundham Town Website.  The QR code also provides a link to the Memorial Field research.

Chair of Saxmundham Town Council, Di Eastman said of the moving trail;  “Reading the background of the person commemorated at each trail point gives an powerful insight into the lives of our war heroes, and is especially poignant for their families and descendants, a lot of whom still live locally.”

Alongside the launch of the trail, Saxmundham Town Council have completed an ambitious landscaping project on the Memorial Field. New benches, a planting scheme, memorial trees and bespoke ornate gates are part of the new look entrance to the field. Visitors to the Memorial Field will see a new information board and commemorative plaque and it is hoped that the space will provide a space of quiet reflection for residents. The Town Council invites everyone to attend the Rededication ceremony and official unveiling on Saturday 5th November at 2:00 pm

The Memorial Field Commemorative Gates and the World War One Memorial Trail reflect a valuable part of Saxmundham’s heritage.

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