THIS coming Tuesday, a further seven servicemen who died in the Second World War will be remembered at a new housing estate in Bovey Tracey.

A granite sign recording the Second World War origin of the road names used on the Challabrook housing development will be unveiled at 7pm on August 15, the 78th anniversary of VJ Day.

The road names on the Devonshire Homes Longston Cross development at Bovey Tracey are those of seven of the 15 individuals commemorated on the town’s Second World War war memorial situated outside the old town hall.

The sign’s engraved tablet, fixed to a block of granite donated by Dartmoor National Park, will be unveiled by a relative of Private Harold Beer, who died on D-Day and is one the seven whose surnames have been used. 

Mini-biographies of all seven will be read out at a ceremony attended by the Bovey Tracey Army Cadet Force detachment and the local Royal British Legion standard bearer.

The ceremony will take place at the junction of Marriott Way and Carpenter Drive on the Longston Cross development off the A382 Monks Way, Bovey Tracey.

Biographical details of all seven men whose names have been used and images of four of them are available.

Bovey Tracey has been using the names of its war dead for new residential road names as a means of providing new residents with a link with the town’s history and to encourage a sense of belonging. 

A similar granite sign recording the use of Great War casualties’ names may be found at the junction of Mountford Drive and Centenary Way on two estates built at Bradley Bends, to the east of the town, during the Great War centenary. 

In addition, a wall plaque at Sadler Green links this place name to Private Jack Sadler, a commando who died of wounds received on D-Day, and who, though not on the town war memorial, is buried in the town cemetery.