AN ARCHIVE set up by two historians to record the stories of every man whose name appears on a Hampshire town’s war memorial has received a £10,000 lottery grant.

The Romsey War Memorial Archive (RWMA) has been awarded the cash from the Heritage Lottery Fund to hekp fund its work.

Founded in 1999 by two local historians, Marc Thompson and Victoria Burbidge, the RWMA has undertaken in-depth research into every man commemorated on the Romsey War Memorial and those buried at the Romsey Cemetery.

The expense incurred has, up until now, been met by Victoria and Marc, to the tune of several thousand pounds.

The archive offers a free research service for those looking for information relating to Romsey men and women who served in the First and Second World Wars.

The “Two Wars, Two Generations” project will focus on the generational loss experienced by Romsey in two world wars by marking two major anniversaries – the 100th anniversary in June of the official end of the First World War and the 80th anniversary of the outbreak of the Second World War in September.

This project will include a number of research-related activities, including an exhibition to be held later this year, and the launch of a dedicated website.

The RWMA successes include having the place of commemoration of Aubrey Maynard (killed in action in 1915) corrected from Iraq to Turkey and the uniting of cousins who had been unaware of one another’s existence.

As part of the exhibition, the RWMA will be offering a free Who Do You Think You Are style research service.

Local family genealogists are very welcome to participate in the project.

Anyone with information relating to any of the First or Second War fatalities are asked to contact Victoria by email at victoria.burbidge@ntlworld.com or by phone on 01794 501755.