A HISTORIAN’S interest in a Suffolk war memorial has resulted in the publication of his second book on the subject.

History writer and genealogist, Simon Last launched his new tribute to the names featured on Framlingham’s commemorative stone in the company of some of those who helped his research.

Mr Last, who last November published ‘The Men Behind the Names’, in honour of soldiers from the town who died during the First World War, revisited the memorial to unveil his follow-up account of the men whose names appear on it from the Second World War.

The author, originally from Framlingham, who now lives in Southend-on-Sea, has for the last nine months been spending his spare time researching the names. He said: “Because the Second World War was more recent, relatives tended to have more information on the names. I also had the opportunity to interview some local people who came back from the war and remembered the men from Framlingham that died.”

Mr Last, who also assists people developing their family trees with his company Charnwood Genealogy, also researched and compiled tales of day-to-day life in Framlingham during the war.

Several relatives of the men who died attended the book’s launch at St Michael’s Church, where the War Memorial can be found.

Mr Last started his research for the book by referring to the record of Commonwealth war graves, before building a family tree for each individual and studying census and birth records. The book also includes the names of civilians who died when properties were bombed in the town.

The book is available from the town council office in Riverside and the newsagents in Framlingham for �5, with profits going to the Royal British Legion, or by emailing Simon at charnwoodresearch@virginmedia.com.