An amazing story written by Sonja Astbury, Education Reporter for the Lancashire Evening post, who have kindly given us permission to use this article.
A high school’s links with the West African nation of Sierra Leone have led to an emotional reunion for a Lancashire pensioner.
Jack Ainscough, 71, has been presented with photographs of the grave of his eldest brother, Ronald (pictured below), who died at the age of 19 during World War Two.
He had lost treasured photographs of his brother’s final resting place in Sierra Leone after his mother died several years ago.
Leading motor mechanic Ronald Ainscough was the eldest of five children and landed in Sierra Leone in 1944 aboard HMS Kilmalcolm. He died of malaria.
The serviceman’s grave was tracked down by three people from Albany Science College in Chorley.
Paul Ratcliffe, a lab technician, science teacher Belinda Baybutt and local man Howard Pym each provided a link in the chain of events leading up to the grave’s discovery.
Mr Ainscough, of Mill Street, Adlington, near Chorley, said: “I was walking the dog with Paul one day when he told me about Albany sending off shoeboxes full of gifts to Sierra Leone.
“I told him I had a brother buried there and that the only photographs the family had of the grave had been lost when my mother died eight years ago.”
Mr Ratcliffe tracked down the grave on the Internet and passed the information on to Mrs Baybutt who, in turn, asked Mr Pym, the school’s link with Sierra Leone, if he could locate the grave on his next visit to the country.
Mr Pym, of Charnock Richard, is Britain’s honorary Latvian Consulate and does a lot of work for overseas aid.
Mrs Baybutt said: “Howard was due to leave for Sierra Leone with another consignment the next day so there wasn’t time to pinpoint the exact location of the grave.”
Mr Pym added: “The hardest part was locating the cemetery because not many people know about it.It took about three days but I found the grave in perfect condition, overlooking the ocean and maintained to the highest standards even though it is in such a poor and sometimes dangerous place.”
He told Mr Ainscough: “I can only say that your brother is lost but not forgotten.”
Mr Ainscough added: “I can’t tell you what it means to have these photographs. I’m just so grateful to everyone involved for making it possible.”
Sierra Leone served as a staging post and housed military bases during the Second World War. Aircraft destined for the Middle East and the North African front flew via West Africa and were serviced there.
Ships bound for India and the east, unable to use the Suez Canal, had to sail round the Cape and were serviced and loaded with supplies at West African ports.
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Howard Pym commented, ” I was delighted to have helped in the search for the grave of Mr Ainscough. I also wish to thank my friend in Freetown, Koyema for all his help in locating Mr Ainscough’s resting place in King Tom Cemetary, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
It was quite an emotional time for me when we first found the gravestone, as it was for Mr Jack Ainscough when I presented him with the photographs.
To all those people lost in war around the world and also those lost in the terrible civil war that ravaged Sierra Leone, I wish to add these few words. You may all be lost, but no one is ever forgotten”
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