AN appeal for information on Tavistock's unsung war heroes was this week issued, in the hope it will lead to additional names being inscribed on the town's war memorial.
The appeal follows last year's public consultation carried out by Tavistock Town Council, which revealed an overwhelming majority of residents wished to see the memorial moved from the Guildhall car park to Tavistock Parish Churchyard.
The consultation prompted a member of the public to approach the council, asking about Tavistock residents who may have been killed in action but not commemorated on the memorial.
Roger Howard, Tavistock's town clerk, said: 'It may be that we haven't got anybody else. I've contacted the Royal British Legion and they don't seem aware of anyone.
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'We have the power as a town council, under the War Memorials Act, to add on names of anybody who has died in active service in any war.'
Col Howard said he thought it was likely that the council would have been informed of anyone local who had died in conflicts since world war two — but there was still a chance that someone could have been missed.
'There is an overflow tablet already with the memorial, so we can put more names on that,' said Col Howard.
He said the removal of the memorial to the churchyard still had to go through a lengthy process of investigation and paperwork before it finally takes place.
At present, Exeter Archaeology is undergoing a study of the churchyard area, which is on the site of the original Tavistock Abbey.
In addition to the town council's appeal, a further request for information on those already commemorated by the memorial has been issued by two Tavistock historians.
Gerry Woodcock and Alex Mettler are researching the history of the first world war dead commemorated on Tavistock's war memorial, for a book to be published later this year.
Mr Woodcock said: 'At the moment we are working on the first world war, after that, we will go onto the second.
'We're researching these 119 names that were the First World War casualties and finding out as much as we can about them — their background, their jobs, their families and what they did before they went to war.
'There's just a chance someone might come up with something for us.'
Anyone with any information should contact Gerry Woodcock on 01822 613597.
Tavistock Town Council can be contacted on 01822 613529.