‘Name Barrow street after hero’
Last updated at 16:24, Monday, 25 February 2013
NAMING a street after a fallen Barrow soldier would be a fitting tribute, according to politicians.
On Wednesday, January 16, 23-year-old Kingsman Dave Shaw, of 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, became the 440th British soldier to die in Afghanistan since 2001 when he was shot by insurgents.
Crowds lined the streets of the town for his funeral earlier this month, and now a permanent tribute could be made to Kgn Shaw (pictured right).
His father David Shaw, 49, from Flass Meadows, said: “There’s always that danger when you have got somebody like David, who is known at the time, that their name could be forgotten by future generations.
“It’s a strange thing to think about having a street named after our son. It’s not for us to decide, it’s for the local council and local people, but we would be very proud to have a street named after David. It would be the same for anybody in the same position.”
Shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy has called for councils to embrace naming streets after war heroes and Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock said naming a street after Kgn Shaw would be a fitting tribute.
He said: “Most of us would rather live in a world where our service personnel were occupied in carrying out peace-time duties.
“But as long as events dictate that our men and women will be prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice, it is entirely proper for communities to pay tribute in this way.
“No one who recently attended the Barrow funeral of Kgn Dave Shaw would have any doubts about the willingness of Barrovians to name a street after this brave soldier whose life, full of promise, was cut short by a bullet in Afghanistan.”
The proposals for councils to name streets after war heroes were brought forward by Mr Murphy who said they could provide a “lasting personal memorial” to those who give their lives for Britain.
Dagenham and Barking has already implemented the idea, creating Tony Rawson Way and Martin Kinggett Gardens in tribute to soldiers who died in Afghanistan.
Mr Murphy suggested other councils should approach bereaved families in their areas to see if they would like a street named after their loved one.
He said: “A lasting personal memorial would demonstrate the value we place on individuals who have served but been lost in the defence of our country.”
Mayor of Barrow, Councillor Wendy Maddox, who held a ceremony to present Kgn Shaw’s parents, David and Jenny Shaw, of Flass Meadows, with a medal and certificate on behalf of the Queen, said any plans would have to gain support of the family.
She said: “In principle I think it’s a good idea.
“If there was a decision taken it would have to go through the family as well.”
First published at 16:11, Monday, 25 February 2013
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk
a soldier mum, if you read the other comments on here it is clear that everyone is entitled to an opinion not everyone supports war every soldier in every army whether they be on our side or the oppostition believe they are doing the right thing by their own country soldiers are trained to kill and unfortunately some lives are lost on our side too that is the nature of war I'm all for a memorial for All lives lost but for one soldier is a bit much
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What I would like to see along with whatever is done to remeber this lad.Is once there are enough names is for them to be cast onto a bronze plaque.The same as what is on the Cenotaph now.And not what seems to bolted on as an after thought.And for those of you arguing over heroes.The definition is A man who is braver one second longer than his comrades.Been there and got the tee shirt.
Posted by Barrow Lad on 22 March 2013 at 04:40