The family of a paratrooper killed in Northern Ireland have welcomed the addition of his name to the Borehamwood War Memorial.

The name of Warrant Officer Walter Beard, who died in an explosion at Warrenpoint in Ulster in August 1979, was added to the memorial last week.

Following the soldier's death aged 33, his relatives made repeated attempts to get his name added to the war memorial, but Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council refused on the grounds that the conflict was not viewed as war.

However, in response to a letter from Mr Beard's sister-in-law, Win Beard, the council agreed in May to add his name.

The soldier's family had said they wanted his name to be quietly carved on the memorial, rather than unveiled at an official ceremony.

Mrs Beard, who is married to Mr Beard's brother Ralph and lives in Borehamwood's Odessey Road, said this week: "I am very pleased.

"It is something that should have been done a long time ago, for him and anybody else killed in the same situation."

She added that the warrant officer's widow Josette Haviland, who lives in West Sussex, and his children were also pleased and had intended to attend the Remembrance service at the memorial on Sunday, before a personal matter intervened to prevent them from doing so.

John Brown, chairman of the Borehamwood branch of the Royal British Legion, said: "It is formal recognition by his own town that this gentleman gave his life in the service of his country to try and preserve peace."

Walter "Wally" Beard, who had two children, grew up in Cowley Hill, and went to Lyndhurst and Furzehill schools before joining the army.

November 7, 2001 14:14