A HERO of the second World War unveiled two memorial plaques at a former war hospital on Remembrance Day.

Royal Marine John Mockler was at Hollins Park Hospital in Winwick to reveal the two plaques, which had been removed during renovations before being cleaned and remounted in time for November 11.

Mr Mockler, who is 87 and has an MBE, said: “It is so important that we remember those who gave their lives for this country as well as those who saved the lives of countless soldiers.

“These memorial plaques do just that and are now in their rightful place on the site of the old war hospital.

“I am delighted that 5 Boroughs Partnership NHS Trust is displaying these plaques, so future generations can continue to remember those before them.

“I am proud to attend the unveiling ceremony, particularly on Armistice Day, it is especially fitting to be here."

The hospital was known as Lord Derby War Hospital during the first World War, and treated 36,500 patients in five years from 1914 to 1919.

The plaques comemmorate the 16 staff members who died during the war. They were put up in 1922, when the hospital had become Lancashire County Asylum.

After they were taken down the War Memorials Trusts asked Simon Barber, the chief executive of 5 Boroughs, to reinstate them.

Chairman Bernard Pilkington said: “We have members of staff who serve in the reserve forces so it is an honour to be able to unveil these plaques on a day when we remember all those who have fallen in the line of duty.”

How the Warrington Examiner reported the unveiling of the tablets on January 12, 1922:

Alderman Taggart, before unveiling the tablet, which was draped in black, said that those commemorated received bullets intended for our breasts they did intercept death for us, and by preventing the tyrant who wished to overrule ‘the world’ from reaching our shores saved us from untold suffering. We commiserated with those they had left behind, and prayed that the fallen might rest in everlasting peace and light. Their frustration of the tyrannical action of the Germans had shown that force of that description could never avail, even as England showed in a previous attempt by our French friends, to overrun the world. Let these monuments show that we were all the children of God and entitled to live in our own lands in freedom and mutual charity.

After unveiling the tablet, Alderman Taggart paid a tribute also to the men who had survived the war.

Alderman Hornby moved an expression of thanks to Alderman Taggart and in suitable terms spoke with appreciation of the fact that the fallen had been volunteers. He, too, had a measure of sympathy for the relatives.

The Mayor of Warrington seconding, said that our gratitude was not only imprinted on the tablet but on our hearts. Perhaps in a high sense it was nice to put up these tablets, but the lasting way of showing our gratitude was to do all that was humanly possible for those who had lost their dear ones and supporters (Hear, Hear).

In reply, Alderman Taggart said he regarded the vote of thanks as one to the committee for their thought in erecting the tablet. He, also considered it a primary duty to see that those left behind should not suffer.

Colonel Simpson, on behalf of the staff, expressed appreciation of the committee’s action. During the war, they at the hospital had seen how the men suffered and the Institution’s fallen had done honour not only to themselves but to the asylum.

Male Nurse George Milner, on behalf of the indoor staff, and Mr Arthur Peckett, on behalf of the outdoor, briefly and suitably endorsed these remarks.

Wreaths were laid before the tablet by relatives of the fallen, during a touching moment.