Battle begins to keep war memorial in Wolverhampton
Councillors are fighting to keep a Wolverhampton war memorial in the city after its sale on an internet auction site sparked outrage from veterans' groups.
The brass plaque displaying the names of those from the city who died in the First World War originates from the Cable Street Mills factory in Wolverhampton.
It was available for £400 on ebay but the offer was cancelled after complaints.
The sale was condemned by the War Memorial Trust and Wolverhampton councillor Ian Claymore, who worked at the factory in the 1960s, has described the auction as 'sacrilege'.
He is now lobbying the city council to keep the memorial in Wolverhampton rather than see it fall in the hands of collectors or go to the National Arboretum in Staffordshire.
The former mayor said: "This memorial represents those Wulfrunians who gave their lives and it remembers those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
"I'm glad it has been taken off ebay but the fact it was up there in the first place in my view is sacrilege. I would say it is as bad as when the graffiti was sprayed on the cenotaph. It really is that sensitive an issue.
"I used to work at Cable Street Mills factory and I remember this memorial. My father also died in the First World War so this is an important issue to me.
"The council should make efforts for this to be put on public display – possibly at St Peter's Church."
Council leader Roger Lawrence called on the owner of the plaque to donate it to the city.
He said: "I'm not sure who the owner of this memorial is but if they were to offer it to the city we would of course find a way to facilitate a place for it.
"This is a part of Wolverhampton's heritage and a part of this city's history and is right that it remains in the area."
