Recognition For The ‘Forgotten Front’ At Beech Tree House Care Home

Ex-servicemen recently lined up at the Goole Cenotaph to lay their respective wreaths in memory of the fallen servicemen who gave their lives in conflicts around the world. Amongst them was 94-year-old Edgar Sheppard from Beech Tree House Care Home who fought for Great Britain during World War II in Burma. Edgar was part of the British Army and fought the Japanese army in Burma from 1941 until 1945, which was the longest continuous campaign and one of the bloodiest during World War II.

Edgar does not feel that enough people know about what the soldiers of the conflict went through due to a lack of coverage of the conflict, which mainly focuses on the events in Europe. He said: “Not many people know about the Burma Star and I wanted the lads who fought out there to be honoured and remembered. I decided to write to the Goole MP Andrew Percy to see if he could arrange for a wreath to be laid to honour the members of the Burma Star. I cannot thank him enough for what he has done to make sure that we will be remembered.”

Speaking about Edgar and the members of the Burma Star, Mr Percy said: “It was a privilege to be able to help secure a Burma Star wreath for Mr Sheppard and it was a delight to meet him on the day. I would like to thank the local Royal British Legion for their help and assistance on this matter too. The Burma campaign was particularly vicious and cruel and Mr Sheppard wrote to me asking me to help ensure this campaign was remembered locally. That is why it was such a privilege to be able to watch Mr Sheppard rise to his feet and lay a wreath.”

Pictured: Edgar Sheppard with the wreath that was laid to commemorate the members of the Burma Star