THE historic status of an Ashton on Mersey monument has been confirmed.

ST Martin’s War Memorial has been granted Grade II listed status.

It now joins a List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest to mark the centenary of the First World War.

The cross shaped memorial, situated in the church grounds, carries no names but local people who died in both world wars are recorded on the stained glass windows and memorial tablets within St Martin’s Church.

Michael Walker, a church member, has, each month in the church magazine, described the lives and deaths of these servicemen.

In the November magazine, he gives the biographies of five.

They are Thomas Hill, buried at Poelcappelle British Cemetery in Belgium; Roland Riley, buried at Arneke British Cemetery in France; Samuel Davenport, whose name is recorded on the Cambrai Memorial at Louerval, France; and James Burgess, who lies in Lissjenthoek Military Cemetery in Belgium.

All of them were killed in 1917.

The fifth casualty, Leslie Aust, died in the Second World War at Medjez-el-Bab, Tunisia in 1942, where after burial at a small cemetery, his remains were reinterred at Medjez cemetery.

They and other casualties of war will be remembered at the monument on Sunday, November 12 at 11 am. There will be a service in St Martin’s church before then, commencing at 10 am.

All the local names will be spoken in the churchyard at 11 am.

All welcome to attend either or both of these commemorations.