BICESTER’S MP is calling for a lasting memorial to all of the town’s war heroes.

Currently there is no single memorial honouring people from Bicester who made the ultimate sacrifice during the two world wars and subsequent conflicts.

But that could change.

Conservative MP Sir Tony Baldry is urging the town to apply for a grant from a new £6m Heritage Lottery Fund pot for communities to mark the centenary of the First World War.

At the moment a cross in St Edburg’s churchyard is the focus for the town’s Remembrance Day service, and about 50 names of those who fell in the First and Second World Wars are on a stone plaque in the porch of the church.

But there is nowhere to commemorate those who died in more recent conflicts such as Afghanistan.

Sir Tony said: “I think it’s an opportunity for Bicester to erect an appropriate memorial to record the names of those Bicester men and women who died in the Great War, World War Two and subsequent conflicts.

“What is really important about war memorials is that the names of people who died are recorded and not lost to the anonymity of history.”

Bicester’s 23 Pioneer Regiment has lost three men during the conflict in Afghanistan.

Warrant Officer Class 2 Charles Wood, 34, from Middlesbrough, was caught in a blast from an IED (improvised explosive device) as he led the clearance of a route through the Khushdal Kalay area of the Helmand River Valley in December 2010.

Last May, Corporal Andrew Roberts, 32, and Private Ratu Silibaravi – both of 23 Pioneer Regiment, based at St David’s Barracks, near Bicester – died when a mortar shell exploded inside their forward operating base in Helmand province.

Sir Tony said people who had died in more recent conflicts including Iraq and Afghanistan would be an “important part of any memorial”.

He said: “Bicester is a proud garrison town and tragically we have seen people from the town and garrison sacrifice their lives in the call of duty, in the Great War, the Second World War and every conflict since including the Iraq war and Afghanistan.

“It must be appropriate and fitting there’s a memorial for all those people.”

WO2 Wood’s widow Heather supports the idea. She said: “I think it would be amazing.

“I think as we move forward, things like Remembrance Day were about the First and Second world Wars, but are now more current.

“To see people’s names on a wall or statue would be really respectful. I think it would be good for the community.”

The idea also has the backing of Bob Hessian, chairman of Bicester Local History Society, who said it would be good to have one memorial honouring all those who died in conflicts.

Bicester’s mayor Melanie Magee said the town council had no plans to build a war memorial, but if there was support from residents and a Lottery grant was approved it would play its part.

The Heritage Lottery Fund will make £1m available each year for the next six in grants of £3,000 to £10,000. Details at hlf.org.uk or email enquiries@h lf.org.uk