THE Trowbridge branch of the Royal British Legion hope to commemorate two teenage girls who died during the Second World War by putting up headstones on their unmarked graves.

The plans have been in the pipeline for some years to remember the two women - Renee Reed, 16 and Rosie Sheehan, 17 – who were the only civilian casualties during German air raid on the town.

They died on July 27, 1942.

RBL member Peter Richardson is spearheading the project and is eagerly awaiting a response from the council to say whether they can proceed with plans.

“The council haven’t decided yet but we are hopeful that we will be able to,” he said.

After 40 years, unmarked graves become the responsibility of the council. Before that time, the RBL would have needed the families' permission to make the changes.

“After 1982, we couldn’t do anything unless we had the permission of their relatives but they would have been in their nineties so we have exhausted that option," said Mr Richardson.

“I am told that Rosie Sheehan was engaged to a royal marine who lived in Trowbridge. She worked in the RBL club in Stallard Street behind the bar and what we think happened is when the club closed, she decided she didn’t want to walk acrossTrowbridge in the blackout and so along with her friend Renee, they stayed the night at the club when it was struck by bombs.

“It is a very sad story really and at the moment we are hoping that the council will find some way to allow us to put up stones to mark their deaths.”

If granted permission, the RBL would fundraise to pay for the gravestones which would cost around £500 to be inscribed with their names and a commemorative phrase.

Rick Owen, manager of the Trowbridge Poppy Appeal at the RBL added: “This project has been 60 years in the making and the council are very supportive for the ex-servicemen and women.

“While the two girls were not military, they were killed as a result of the war and I think it should be known to people that they were in Trowbridge when it was bombed.”

German bombers were returning from Bristol when they dropped their leftover munitions on Trowbridge in July 1942.

A talk on Trowbridge during the war will be given by Neil Ashley at the next RBL meeting on June 9 at the Wesley Road Club at 8pm.