The statue of Britannia in Scatcherd Park is to be restored, ready for a rededication ceremony on Veterans' Day, June 27.

The work was organised by Coun Terry Grayshon (MBI, Morley South) who is also to arrange for new plaques to include the names Harry Raymond Sigsworth and Robert Murraney.

Coun Grayshon said: "The war memorial in Morley is finally to be renovated this coming May, however it has come to light that there are some members of our armed forces who should be named on the memorial and are not.

"I am aware of two such people and would ask that should any other families who feel their loved one should be named to contact me in order that necessary enquiries can be made to establish if they can be included on the memorial. "

Mr Sigsworth and Mr Murraney can both be found listed on the Commonwealth Graves Commission website.

Pte Robert Murraney was a casualty of the First World War and was brought to Coun Grayshon's attention by his grandson and namesake Robert Brook.

Mr Brook, of Batley, said: "He worked at Topcliffe Pit where he drew the short straw and was shipped out."

Mining was a reserved occupation but mining skills were needed in the war effort, especially in the excavation and shoring up of the trenches.

"I don't know the circumstances of his death but I asked when I was young why his name wasn't on the memorial and the answer I got was that they said he wasn't a proper soldier," said Mr Brook.

"I could feel the atmosphere was one of upset so I never pursued it."

Years later, however, he tried to find out more about his grandfather and last month visited his grave in Premont British Cemetery in France where he found him listed as a private in the first battalion of the West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own).

"The guy with the next number along from him was killed on the same day so it seems there must have been some action, it wasn't as if he was killed by accident."

Pte Murraney was 29 when he died on October 24, 1918. He had lived on Birch Street and left a wife, Mary A Murraney.

Mr Brook added that he was pleased his grandfather was finally to have his name on the memorial where it was entitled to be.

Harry Raymond Sigsworth was a gunner with the Royal Artillery who died on December 30, 1943 and was buried in Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery in Myanmar.

That cemetery is one of several used for the remains of the 13,000 POWs who died working on the notorious Burma-Siam Railway.

If anyone knows of someone who deserves to be included on Morley War Memorial they should contact Coun Grayshon on 247 7538.