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We Will Remember
In 1946, following consultations with both the British Legion and the clergy, the government announced the second Sunday in November to be known as Remembrance Day. The date was intended to commemorate not only the fallen from the Second World War, but also those from the First World War, who had previously been honoured on Armistice Day (11th November).
On Sunday 10 November 1947, a joint Remembrance Day and Sunday service was held at St Matthew’s Church in Stretford. There was a civic procession from the town hall and, whilst en route, the Mayor placed a memorial wreath at the Cenotaph. The Metropolitan Vickers Electrical Company also sounded their works bell, to indicate both the commencement and termination of the two minutes silence.
Memorials
There was not the same enthusiasm for the erection of war memorials after the Second World War. As local war historian, George Cogswell, explains:
'People just wanted to get on with their lives and were still subjected to lack of housing, shortage of fuel, austerity measures and food rationing'.
Instead, names and dates were added to existing memorials, which already were installed throughout towns and cities to commemorate the fallen from the First World War. Smaller memorials were also unveiled in schools, churches, offices and sports clubs to commemorate former pupils and members. The memorials often took the form of plaques, boards and leather-bound books — such as the Roll of Honour produced by the Borough of Stretford, and which remembers both civilians and military personnel. The Civilian Memorial, on the corner of Moss Lane and Oakfield Road in Altrincham, is in the form of a bronze plaque, and commemorates those people who lost their lives on 23 December 1940 (Manchester Blitz). A Civilian Memorial consisting of a panelled stone wall, also exists in Stretford Cemetery. It was unveiled in 1948, and bears the following inscription:
'This garden is dedicated to the memory of the residents of Stretford, also seventeen unidentified persons who lost their lives through enemy action in December 1940 and were interred here. May they rest in peace'.
Sources
George Cogswell Greater Manchester Blitz Victims http://www.greatermanchesterblitzvictims.co.uk/index.php?place=miscellaneous&memorials=TRUE
Manchester Evening News, 8th November 1947
https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials
Trafford Lifetimes