Work is continuing on a project to create a permanent memorial in Chedgrave to commemorate the servicemen that died in both world wars.

Eastern Daily Press: The approved design for Chedgrave's lychgate memorial project. Picture: Courtesy of Chedgrave Parish Council.The approved design for Chedgrave's lychgate memorial project. Picture: Courtesy of Chedgrave Parish Council. (Image: Archant)

Despite several grant funding rejections in the last 12 months, the parish council is now working with a local history group to trace the relatives of the villages' fallen soldiers from the First and Second World War.

Chedgrave is one of only two villages in Norfolk that does not have a dedicated war memorial, with the village's All Saint's Church instead housing two plaques.

The project started back in 2014, and is being led by Chedgrave Parish Council vice chairman, Matt Hubbard.

He said: 'We wanted to build and dedicate the memorial within the centenary years of the First World War. The memorial will be a lychgate situated at the entrance to the churchyard of All Saint's Church and will be built from traditional locally sourced materials and constructed by specialist local tradesmen. 'We want to permanently commemorate the servicemen from our parish that gave their lives in the service of our country.'

Eastern Daily Press: All Saint's Church, Chedgrave. Picture: Nick Butcher.All Saint's Church, Chedgrave. Picture: Nick Butcher. (Image: � Archant 2014)

Planning permission was granted by South Norfolk Council back in summer 2015 and grants have been secured so far from the district council, Norfolk Community Foundation and the Loddon and District Business Association.

Fundraising by the parish council has been ongoing since day one and donations from parishioners and supporters of the initiative and grants have secured a total of just over £7,000 towards the £34,000 cost of the project.

Mr Hubbard said: 'We anticipate a very high profile dedication ceremony once the memorial is in place and we are currently being assisted by members of the Loddon and District History Group who are working hard to trace any living relatives of the fallen serviceman and have made an outstanding contribution locating relatives to some of those servicemen.'

Mr Hubbard said that the parish council remains committed in bringing the memorial project to fruition before November 11, 2018.

He added: 'We will continue to find new ways to raise funds and will not stop until these men are rightly commemorated for what they did for our country.'

Chedgrave's fallen soldiers

So far the group have been unable to locate any relatives of James John Fuller and Robert Richard Goulty.

Mr Fuller was the son of James and Jessie Fuller of Chedgrave, who died on November 11, 1917.

Mr Goulty was the son of Arthur and Sarah Goulty of Chedgrave, who died on November 1, 1943.

The full list of servicemen from the village due to be honoured on the memorial are:

First World War

Edwin George Hunt Beckham - Royal Garrison Artillery

James John Fuller - Norfolk Regiment

Free Easter - Norfolk Regiment

Second World War

Stanley Douglas Goodyear - Dorsetshire Regiment

Robert Richard Goulty - Royal Air Force

Harry Algernon Seamons - Royal Norfolk Regiment

Albert Edward Hamilton Starman - Royal Norfolk Regiment

To find out more about the project or, help trace the relatives of the serviceman or make a donation, email chedgrave.pc@googlemail.com, call the council clerk on 01508 521263 or Mr Hubbard on 01508 522181.