Poppy trail remembers 42 heroes from South Oxford who gave their lives in Second World War

Around remembrance day a community organised memorial has been created remembering the men from South Oxford using biographies displayed outside the homes where they once lived

During the Second World War more than 40 men from South Oxford died serving their country.

Organised by volunteers and South Oxford History, the Poppy Trail goes through Grandpont, New Hinksey, and Cold Harbour, remembering their sacrifice and detailing their lives before the war.

Some images of the men that were used as part of the Poppy Trail.

The trail and its organisation was led by local historian Liz Woolley, and run by volunteers. The group researched and worked with local organisations such as the police, the Oxford University colleges, the Cowley Car Factory, now known as the MINI Plant, and W. Lucy & Co Ltd, a historic steel and iron factory in Jericho, making it a real community wide project.

They did so with the goal of finding out about the lives of these men who fought in the war to give colour to their life stories.

Woolley created a similar memorial ten years ago on the anniversary of the Somme, and following the success of this funding was secured for this memorial.

“They look through the archives and really track these men down.” said Molly Wilson, one if the group organisers on how the trail was created. “We got every single address so we know where they lived, which was really exciting.”

The information about each of the men is displayed on a poster outside the house that they lived in, which are scattered throughout the South Oxford neighbourhoods.

The map detailing the locations of the houses included in the Poppy trail.

“We’ve managed to get the posters up everywhere outside each man’s house. And not everyone said yes, but 99% of people have. And when we knocked on their door and said, 80 years ago, the man who lived in your house was killed in World War II, they were really, really interested and everyone was really supportive,” Wilson said about the current householders.

The group also reached out to the families of the men being commemorated. “That’s how we got lots of the photographs and lots of the more personal details about their lives.” Wilson said.

“When we put the trail up, we sent lots of photos to them because most of them don’t live in Oxford anymore.

“They’re all really happy, which is really lovely,” Wilson noted.

Images were both provided and found in the archives.

The project has been a memorial created for the community by the community. “It’s community history and local history all merged into one,” said Wilson. Its open access makes it possible for anyone to visit and a simple way to commemorate those who gave up their lives in the Second World War while grounding it in current communities.

The Poppy Trail will be up until 30th November, and people can “choose to visit all the addresses, or just read one or two of the posters as they pass by.” says South Oxford History.