I SHOULD have written this letter over five years ago, but it has always been so difficult putting into words what I really want to say. As it is the eve of the 90th anniversary of the ending of the Great War (1914-1918) I felt I should make the effort.

So here goes. Over the years, while walking thought Victoria Square I very often looked at the War Memorial. Just over five years ago, I noted with surprise the dates of the two wars was 1914-1919 and 1939-1945.

I always wondered who had been responsible for this grave error, and thought that it would be rectified when the memorial was cleaned but, to this day, it has not been done.

I made the effort to view it last Saturday on my way home and to see the small wooden crosses. On leaving I had a fall, and I was ever so thankful to the four ladies who helped me.

After resting for 15 minutes I was able to get my bus safely home and I watched the Festival of Remembrance on TV on Saturday night.

Feeling the after effects of my fall on Sunday, I watched the service of remembrance at the Cenotaph on TV, with the laying of the wreaths and the march past by veterans, which was so moving.

I am hoping to make the effort to be down in Victoria Square for the 90th anniversary of the ending of the Great War. I always wear my poppy with pride, remembering the fallen of the two wars and conflicts up to present day, with ever so many young lives lost, which is so heartbreaking.

I trust and hope that the inscription on the memorial will be rightfully restored soon, before I pass away.

H Brooks

Address supplied

A spokesman for the Imperial War Museum in London, said: “The war carried on in the Middle-east after 1918 and the Treaty of Versaille was not signed until June 28, 1919. It is not uncommon for war memorials to have either 1918 or 1919 on them.”

A spokesman for Bolton Council, added: “The war memorial was built in 1928 and in the twenties a lot of people recognised the war as lasting until 1919.”