Corporal Jonathan Horne

The names of two Walsall war heroes will be added to a roll of honour at the town hall, it has been announced.

Corporal Jonathan Horne, who was 27, and Gunner David Lawrence, 25, will be added to the memorial to Walsall soldiers who have died in conflicts since 1946. Gnr Lawrence, of Blakenall, served with the 1st Regiment Royal Artillery. He was killed in 2004 when a grenade his Land Rover in Iraq.

Father-of-two Cpl Horne, known as Jay, from Delves, was killed trying to save comrades injured in a blast in Helmand Province in July this year.

His mother Jane Whitehouse, aged 54, said it was a nice way for the council to remember him as it meant his name would live on for future generations. She said: “It is a fitting tribute to Jonathan and all the soldiers. It is a nice touch.”

Councillor Mike Bird, leader of Walsall Council, said: “We are very much aware of the sacrifice given by serviceman Jonathan Horne of the 2nd Rifles who died in Afghanistan. We also remember the bravery of David Lawrence of the 1st Regiment Royal Artillery who died in Iraq.

“We are looking to add both those names to the Roll of Honour which records all those lost while on active service since the end of the Second World War. This tribute is kept on permanent public display in the Town Hall alongside lists of names of the fallen from earlier wars.”

Calls had been growing for a permanent memorial to Cpl Horne, of the 2nd battalion The Rifles, with the creation of a Facebook group urging Walsall Council to act. More than 3,000 had pledged their support to the campaign. The former Joseph Leckie pupil left behind a wife Rachel, 25, and daughters Frankie, nine, and Jessica, four months.