Suffolk: War heroes remembered by young relatives who wore medals

Four-year-old Elliot Stanford wore his great-grandad's medals with pride at the Christchurch Park service.

Elliot's great-grandad, Edward, was a Chindit who served in the Essex regiment in Burma.

He was awarded the Burma Star, as well as the 1939-1945 star, the War medal, a Defence medal and the Africa Star.

Edward Stanford with the medals he had won (Image: Richard Stanford)

Richard Stanford, Edward's grandson was given the medals after his grandmother passed away.

He said: "I was intrigued about the medals, and my grandad never spoke to my dad about the war, so we had very little information.

"I set about doing a bit of family research and I found out he had spent time in Sierra Leone and had been to Egypt and then finally Burma.

Edward Stanford was a member of the Essex regiment and served in Sierra Leone, Egypt and Burma. (Image: Richard Stanford)

"Then when he came back to the UK, he was really sick with Malaria, and my dad didn't really know any of this."

Edward passed away shortly after Richard's dad was born.

The medals are now framed in Richard's house, along with a picture of his grandad.

Mr Stanford continued: "My son is only four, and sooner or later he is going to ask who is in the picture on the wall.

Elliot Stanford wearing replica's of his great-grandads medals (Image: Richard Stanford)

"So I came up with the idea that I would order replica medals so that before it got to the point of him asking who it was and what it means, let's make it part of him so he knows what it is all about.

"Elliot wore them to the park proudly."

Stanley Kerry wore his great-great grandad, Stanley Wallis' medals at the Needham Market Remembrance parade.

Stanley Kerry wearing his great-great grandads medals with a soldier (Image: Louise Woods)

Stanley, who is named after his great-great grandad, donned the four medals his relative had earned.

These included the 39-45 star for those who served in the Second World War, the Burma Star, a Defence medal and the War Medal.

Stanley's grandmother, Louise Woods, is the war veteran's granddaughter.

Stanley Wallis was a Corporal in the war (Image: Louise Woods)

She said: "Because Stanley is only three, and because of Covid and lockdowns, This was the first Remembrance Day Parade he'd been to.

"I just thought that it'd be nice for him to wear my grandad's medals because whenever he went, he always wore his medals."

Stanley Wallis, who was a Corporal in the war, passed away around 10 years ago, with the medals not worn since.

Stanley Wallis with great-grandchildren Lily and Ethan (Image: Louise Woods)