Worthing pays tribute to war birds

Cynthia O'Neill, 71, from Burgess Hill, will visit the bird memorial in Beach House Park, Brighton Road, to remember the brave birds which perished in World War Two.

The landscaped memorial, believed to be the only bird memorial in the country, was built in 1949 and is maintained by Worthing Borough Council.

The first messages from the D-Day landings were conveyed back to England by carrier pigeons.

Cynthia has paid her respects alone for the past two years and left hand-made tributes to the birds.

"We do owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude," said Cynthia, a retired nurse.

"They did a lot for us and I do think we should remember them."

Cynthia was one of the first people to pay Remembrance Day tribute to animals killed in war at London's animal war memorial in Park Lane four years ago, an event which last year attracted more than 70 people.

She hopes she will not be alone when she visits Worthing. "Even if there's just two of us, just to pay our respects, then next year maybe we can double it to four.

"Why should birds fight man's wars?" said Cynthia.

"The RSPCA? Where are they? The RSPB? Where are they? I want to make this an annual thing."

Cynthia is hoping a bugler will attend the event and play The Last Post to mark the occasion.

Anyone who would like to join Cynthia at the ceremony should be at the memorial by 10.30am.

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