A memorial to the only woman in Bolton to be killed in the First World War is finally to be installed after a long campaign.
The monument to Alice Thomasson, a member of the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corp who was killed in 1918 aged just 21, is now set to be unveiled this spring at Moses Gate Country Park.
This has been a long-held aspiration held by campaigners and residents’ groups in the area.
Friends of Moses Gate chair Jim Clarke said: “Plans were formally submitted in early 2020 but Covid-19 threw a spanner in the works.
“Covid-19’s long wake also left challenges that have now finally been overcome.”
He added: “The memorial to Alice will be on the grassed triangle at the junction of Egerton Street and Bolton Road, opposite the train station.
“We want it to be a bit of a surprise but can say that it will be a seven-foot-high stone with a sculptured bust of Alice at the top.
“The bust has been carved and we are just waiting for the weather to clear to commence laying the seven one-foot-high stone blocks.”
He added: “We expect the overall height of the memorial to be more than ten feet or over three metres high.
“The memorial stone will also include plaques to all Moses Gates’ fallen heroes of both World Wars.”
Alice Thomasson was one of the only women to have been killed in action in the First World War.
She signed up to the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps but was killed on May 30 1918, just 21 days after arriving in France.
Creating a permanent memorial to the fallen servicewoman has been an ambition of Mr Clarke’s and the Friends of Moses Gate group for many years now.
Mr Clarke started his campaign in 2018 and managed to raise £600 through a GoFundMe appeal.
This was then bolstered by Bolton at Home’s donation of £2,000, while the final cost was met by two residents from Farnworth and Moses Gate.
ALSO READ: Memorial to only Bolton woman to die on active service in First World War
ALSO READ: Monument to honour the only Bolton woman to die in active service in the World War I
ALSO READ: Mothers' dream of creating country park haven for struggling people a step closer
After a recent meeting with town hall leaders, Mr Clarke says he is confident the memorial will soon be ready for unveiling.
He said: “Following a meeting attended by residents’ group Friends of Moses Gate, council leader Cllr Nick Peel, and council officers, assurances were given that the Council would ensure an art of the possible attitude in bringing the project to fruition.
He added: “Within a couple of weeks of the meeting, the group received final notification that work could commence on site.”
The Friends of Moses Gate now hope to unveil the memorial on May 30 this year, marking the 106th anniversary of Alice Thomasson’s death
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel