A COUPLE who have dedicated part of their lives to remembering fallen soldiers have now erected new plaques for Korean War casualties.

Frances and Peter Theobald, of Whitehouse Farm, in Main Road, Rettendon, have put up 121 memorials with the names of service men and women lost during the 1950-1953 conflict.

The couple’s quest to remember all those lost to war over the past 60 years, which they have named Operation Sweet Pea, was first reported earlier this year.

Since then, about 700 trees plus hundreds of plaques and seats have already been erected to remember Armed Forces personnel killed in Afghanistan, Iraq and other conflicts.

To pay tribute to Korean War casualties, the couple spent about £4,000 paying for plaques with 1,150 names and landscaping.

Veteran John Boyd, secretary of the Essex No 1 Branch of British Korean Veterans Association, visited the memorial and said it was an extremely moving tribute.

Mr Boyd, 77, a former signalman for the Army’s Royal Corp of Signals, of Nayling Road, Braintree, said: “What they have done is amazing.

“Most memorials just feature one plaque, but this is much bigger.

“I don’t think there’s another memorial which has got all the names posted up like this.”

The site is almost completely paid for, and maintained through fundraising boot sales held at Mr and Mrs Theobald’s farm at weekends.

Mrs Theobald said: “It’s all worthwhile when you see the effect it has on family and friends of people lost in war.”

The next aim for the couple is to erect tributes to people lost during the Malayan war.

Any families who would like to visit the memorial or anyone who would like to donate to help the memorial can call Mrs Theobald on 01245 400293.