LEIGH MP Lawrence Cunliffe is calling on the Government to launch a public appeal for cash to build a national memorial to the servicewomen who served in the British Armed Forces during the Second World War.

Mr Cunliffe is asking for action to provide a statue or other commemorative object to pay tribute to the 640,000 who served in the military between 1939 and 1945.

He is one of a group of MPs to sign a Commons motion which "expresses concern at the lack of public recognition of the difficult and dangerous tasks undertaken by the servicewomen".

These included flying unarmed planes across the Atlantic and Europe, staffing anti aircraft gun sites and working behind enemy lines in the Special Operations Executive.

The 80 MPs recognise that the women's contribution was essential to defeating Nazism and notes that Canada, Australia and the USA all have national memorials to Second World War servicewomen.

The MPs say: "We support the Royal Artillery Association campaign for a United Kingdom memorial to the brave servicewomen who fought for this country during the Second World War.

"We recognise that the cost of erecting war memorials is traditionally borne by public subscription and call on the Government to do everything possible to locate a suitable and prominent position for a Second World War United Kingdom Servicewomen's Memorial."

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