Arthur G Skates

Arthur G Skates died in 1943. He is a one of 29 men from our town who died in the wars since 1939.

To mark the anniversary of VE day, our town is remembering these 29 men by displaying their names on our houses from today until Monday. Each name is repeated on 4 houses, so that if people want to, they should be able to go for a walk tomorrow and see all 29 in their area of the town.

As well as displaying Arthur's name in our window, I have decorated the tree stump with painted rocks and poppies and written a little information down about him. He was a seargent in the Royal Artillary and was 24 when he died, just 24...

I wonder whether he left a family behind and how they managed. I wonder what he was like and if he was scared. I wonder what he would think if he imagined 77 years after his death, two/three generations later, that he would be being remembered and thought of by strangers so grateful for his sacrifice.