East Ham war hero to be honoured with Cenotaph stone
The Cenotaph at East Ham's Central Park - Credit: Newham Council
A soldier who received the Victoria Cross is to be honoured with a commemorative stone in East Ham next month.
Harold Sangford Mugford (Picture: Newham Archives) - Credit: Archant
Lance Corporal Harold Sanford Mugford received the medal for his actions during the battle for Arras in northern France in April 1917.
Mayor of Newham Sir Robin Wales will lead the ceremony at the Cenotaph in Central Park on Tuesday, April 11, which starts at 2.30pm.
He said: “What they went through must have been terrifying but they put this fear aside to help their fellow soldiers.
“They are inspirational stories that all of us can learn from and these memorial stones will be a permanent tribute to their actions.”
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Lance Corporal Mugford, from East Ham, fought in the First World War as part of the Machine Gun Corps, and lost both of his lower legs due to bombings on the battlefield in Monchy-le-Preux, a village east of Arras.
After returning home, he married Amy Key in 1919 at All Saints’ Church, Forest Gate, before moving to Chelmsford.
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He died on June 16, 1958 and had a military funeral in Chelmsford Cathedral.
His VC medal is currently on long-term loan to the Imperial War Museum.
The commemorative stone will be the fourth of five commemorative stones to be unveiled in Newham in honour of First World War VC recipients.
