On Friday, 8th August, the Ipswich War Memorial Project launched its exhibition, “Be Ye Men of Honour“. It features 375 portraits of Ipswich men and women lost in WW2. It is at St. Margaret’s Church, Soane Street, IP4 2BT.In attendance, and joining the Mayor of Ipswich, Cllr. Stefan Long, as a well-deserved honoured guest, was 100-year-old Mr. Eric Walker, a World War Two D-Day veteran from Ipswich.
Mr Walker said, ” I was moved by the work involved in the research and felt we should all reflect on the damage and loss to the people of all wars.”
The Mayor added, “The portraits are a poignant reminder of the Ipswich lives lost in the Far East and Europe, we are indebted to their sacrifice.”
Researcher, Andrew Beal, gave a talk. He spoke of his experiences and memories of family members who were affected by their ill treatment as POWs in the Far East.
Families of the fallen also attended. Gunner Philip Spurgeon‘s family have shared their letters and photos for the exhibition. Philip died on a “Hell Ship” in1944 as a Japanese slave while on-board the Rakuyo Maru. As a child, he attended St. Margaret’s School. (See image to right; Philip seen seated in the centre holding a board.) Philip would have sat in the church on many occasions. The photos and letters cover his life, school, teenage years, meeting the love of his life, marriage, joining up, and time in Singapore. Plus a treasured photo of his son, he would never meet.
“Be Ye Men of Honour“
The “Be Ye Men of Honour” 80th Anniversary of VE-Day and VJ-Day exhibition will now be open to visitors until Bank Holiday Monday, 25th August 2025. It is open 10am to 4pm, Monday to Saturday, and 12:30pm to 4pm on Sunday. On display around the beautiful church in the heart of Ipswich, are 375 portraits with short profiles of the brave men and women with an Ipswich connection who lost their lives for our freedom.
Families, schools, universities, regiments, squadrons and associations have kindly shared many of the wonderful photos on display with the I.W.M.P. The rest were found in newspapers.
Also included in this free exhibition are the short profiles of 523 brave Ipswich men and women without a photograph….yet.
The I.W.M.P. has research covering the lives of the fallen from the South African War, WWI, WW2, and Post-1945. A free website holds all their details as profile pages: ipswichwarmemorial.co.uk.
A sister website, “Ipswich Luminary,” holds more war-related stories transcribed from newspapers, including Ipswich VE DAY NEWSPAPERS and VJ DAY NEWSPAPERS. These show the town centre celebrations, which may be of help for future news items.
For more information:
Website: www.ipswichwarmemorial.co.uk.
Facebook: IWM&C.
