Daryll's quest for the stories of heroes

TEN weathered names engraved on a stone memorial in a peaceful

country churchyard adorned with early-spring flowers...

But what were the individual stories of those men who fought and died for their country in the first world war?

Yaxham villager Daryll Banyard has asked that question to himself many, many times as he has passed by the monument outside St Peter's Church. He has lived in the village for more than 30 years, and, now that he has time on his hands, he is satisfying his curiosity by researching their histories.

This week, he appealed to Times readers to help

him in his endeavours.

Mr Banyard retired last year from his job as a sales executive for a stationery and greetings cards business. He said: 'The names on the war memorial have fascinated me for years, and I decided that when I had the time I should start to try to discover more about those men and where they died, when and how.'

He has already checked out the records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and delved into the archives of the Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum in Norwich. Now, he would love to hear from readers with any photographs, documents or memorabilia to peruse relating to the names of Yaxham's fallen.

The names recorded are: William Eke, Bertie Curson, Ernest Meachen, Lewis

- or Louis - Shickle, Frederick Vincent, Walter Curson, David Kent, Ernest Taylor, James Meachen and Arthur Woodrow.

Several of the men are known to have had links

with the Norfolks, and L Cpl Shickle, whose name is also on the North Tuddenham roll of honour, fought and died as part of the calamitous episode on August 12, 1915, when

the Sandringham company suffered heavy losses at Gallipoli - the subject many years later of the film, All the King's Men.

'Eventually I hope to produce something to put in the church so that the names of the men can be related to their histories,' said Mr Banyard.

Call him on 01362 850530 if you can help his research. And do let the Times know, too.