A request by the surviving relatives of two Saltash firemen that their names be added to the war memorial at St Stephens has been turned down by Saltash Town Council by seven votes to six.

Bernard Jasper and Leslie G Tibbs were two of the six firemen from the town, and a scout, whose truck received a direct hit as they raced to help during the Plymouth Blitz in 1942.

All seven are commemorated on the war memorial at St Nicholas and St Faith Church in Saltash but only five are on the St Stephens memorial with the names of Bernard Jasper and Leslie Tibbs omitted.

Cllr Sue Hooper has been liaising with the Burial Authority who wanted to know from the families concerned if they wished to have their relatives’ names added to the St Stephens memorial, and also if the community could provide information as to why the two names had been omitted in the first place.

At a previous meeting, it was stated that Maurice Eglinton, a cousin, had indicated that he wished Bernard Jasper’s name to be inscribed at St Stephens, and also spoke on behalf of nephews Nicholas Jasper and Robert Spragg. Linda Dodwell, niece of Leslie Tibbs, wished the same.

Bruce Hunt, of Saltash Heritage, said he felt the reason for the omission was due to the separate boundaries between the two parishes which were merged in 1934. Cllr Hooper said there was strong evidence that the two areas of Saltash and St Stephens inscribed their own residents’ names on the war memorials.

Cllr Barry Brooking whose grandfather had been one of the firemen killed said he was disappointed with the council’s decision. ‘The wishes of the families should have been paramount,’ he said.