PLANS to move a town centre war memorial plaque in Selkirk have been unveiled.

Discussions are to be held with military and historic organisations to relocate the names of heroes from the Boer wars to the town’s main War Memorial on Ettrick Terrace.

The names of 27 soldiers from Selkirk who served in South Africa are listed on the Pant Well in the Market Square.

Apart from an anniversary ceremony several years ago, the commemoration plaque is generally ignored during remembrance parades.

But that could change if the plans win support.

Selkirk community councillor Alasdair Lockhart said: “At the moment the men who went out to South Africa don’t get remembered at all.

“There is an opportunity here to move the two plates on the main War Memorial in Ettrick Terrace nearer the cross, where they should be, and make space for the Boer wars plaque.” The first Boer War was fought from December 1880 until March 1881 between the British and the Transvaal Boers.

Almost a decade later war erupted again in the South Africa.

The Second Boer War started in October 1899 and continued through to May 1902. It was the first major international conflict of the 20th century.

A total of 27 soldiers from Selkirk took part in the campaign, mainly with the Kings Own Scottish Borderers. But the losses in Africa were to be overshadowed some 15 years later during World War One.

Almost 1300 men from the burgh and parish of Selkirk were involved with 292 losing their lives.

Selkirk’s main War Memorial on Ettrick Terrace was designed by Sir Robert Lorimer and unveiled in 1922. It lists all of the 1292 men who took part in World War One.

More than two decades later the names of the men who fought in World War Two, including the 44 who were killed, were added.

And now the names of the fallen in South Africa could join them at the Ettrick Terrace memorial.

Community Council chairman Graham Easton, who is a former serviceman, said: “This is a perfectly valid point.

“The Ex Soldiers’ Association was formed in 1910 to deal with the casualties from the Boer wars. This is something I will take up with the Royal British Legion and others who are involved with the War Memorial.” Around 22,000 British soldiers died during the war in South Africa before the Boers surrendered in May 1902.

Less than 8,000 casualties were killed in action, the others died as a result of disease.

Councillor Lockhart added: “We are just at the suggestion stage but we would end up with the one memorial where we could remember all of our servicemen.”