The name of a member of Arbroath-based 45 Commando Group one of 13 men from the unit to die in the campaign to liberate the Falkland Islands following their invasion by Argentina in 1982 has been added to the war memorial in his home parish of Great Sutton, Cheshire.
Paul Callan, who was once a sea cadet in Ellesmere Port before joining the Royal Navy and then transferring to the Royal Marines, was 21 and is buried alongside several of his comrades in Arbroath’s Western Cemetery.
However, his mother Pamela Boggs still lives in Great Sutton and has laid flowers at the war memorial each year on his birthday.
When this came to the attention of members of St John the Evangelist Church, where the war memorial is located, the congregation agreed to increase subscriptions to pay for Paul’s name to be inscribed on the stone, taking its place with those from the parish who died in previous conflicts.
Last Sunday a service of rededication took place at the church, attended by Mrs Boggs and Paul’s father David and their new partners and by his sisters Michelle and Jacqueline.
Gareth Anderson, the lord mayor of Ellesmere Port & Neston of which Great Sutton is now part also attended.
The church’s assistant verger Mike Olney-Smith said, “It was a good service and the church was full so there were more than 200 people there.
“Two members of the Manchester Royal Marines Reserves attended and there were two standard bearers from the North Wales Royal Marines Association.
“The local sea cadets marched up Church Lane and were splendid in their uniforms and there was a bugler from the sea cadets as well.”
The inscription was unveiled from beneath a Royal Marines flag as the congregation sang the adapted version of the hymn Eternal Father Strong to Save.