WAR dead from Swindon may be honoured with a memorial wall along the lines of the Vietnam monument in Washington.

It is proposed to erect the wall in Queen's Park and inscribe it with the names of all the town's war dead from 1914 onwards.

And the memorial is particularly intended for the benefit of Swindon men like Vince Phillips, the SAS hero who died on the infamous Bravo Two Zero mission in the Gulf War, as well as all the other Swindonians who have given their lives in conflicts since World War II but who have no official tribute.

The remembrance wall is the idea of Swindon mayor David Cox, who has decided to hold a public meeting next week to gauge support.

Coun Cox has also suggested the names of post-1945 conflicts could be added to the cenotaph in Regent Circus, and that a garden of remembrance be created in Queen's Park.

The proposals already have the backing of the family of Vince Phillips who have been fighting for 11 years to see a public memorial to the former SAS sergeant who was 36 when he died in the Gulf War.

His mother Veronica, 70, from Old Town, said: "It's a great idea. I think it's a good for all the lads who have been lost, not just Vince. I feel for all the families."

And brother Jeff, 44, who also served in the army, said: "It's really good news, it's going to honour everybody in Swindon. I've lost mates myself in conflicts.

"It will be somewhere for people to go. There were a lot who knew Vince and it would be nice for the family as well, especially his two daughters."

Coun Cox said: "These people have gone from our town and given their lives for us and I think we should give recognition to them. We will have to see what support there is at the public meeting. But if it is there I'm willing to put the wheels in motion."

He added that he will put the findings of the meeting to Swindon Council and investigate funding for the new memorial.

The cenotaph currently only bears an inscription dedicated to the dead of both World Wars but there are no soldiers' names.

The names of the town's hundreds of war dead are remembered on a plaque at the Town Hall in the Swindon Dance studios. But it is covered up and only viewable on request.

There is no record in the town anywhere of Swindonians who have died in the 15 conflicts Britain has been involved in since 1945.

The public meeting to discuss a new war memorial is being held on Tuesday, April 9, at the council chamber on Euclid Street from 7pm to 9pm.