Memorial plaques commemorating workers at a former pottery factory who served and lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars, have been rediscovered.

The plaques, commemorating the employees of Burslem-based Wood & Sons, were found at the National Memorial Arboretum.

Originally displayed at the company's Burslem factories - including Trent, New Wharf and the Stanley works - the memorials record the names of men who left their roles in kilns, workshops, the factory floors and offices to serve their country.

 Julia Roberts, speaking on behalf of Woods, said: "These plaques represent far more than names carved into wood. They tell the story of a working community that gave so much - men who left the potbanks of Wood & Sons in Burslem for the battlefields of Europe and beyond.

"It is our responsibility to ensure their sacrifice is remembered with dignity and that their families know their stories are not forgotten."

The rediscovery forms part of a wider heritage initiative to establish a complete Memorial and Roll of Honour for Burslem's fallen.

The project is being led locally by Mike Lightfoot and the team at the Burslem War Memorials Steering Group.

He said: "The rediscovery of these memorials is an important moment for Burslem.

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"They reconnect us with the human cost of war within our own factories and streets. By publishing every name, we hope to reach descendants and preserve these histories properly for future generations."

Research has been supported by Professor John Bourne, a leading historian of the British Army and its commanders during the First World War.

Further invaluable contributions have come from social and military historians Ruth Butler and Rob Price, whose extensive knowledge and many years of research experience were instrumental in identifying and researching the 59 personnel commemorated in the Royal Doulton Memorial Kiln Gate project.

Professor John Bourne said: "The men recorded on these plaques were part of a generation profoundly shaped by industrial Britain and by total war. Their service reflects the deep ties between local industry and the armed forces. Recording and researching their stories ensures that remembrance is rooted in historical understanding as well as community memory."

Ruth Butler added: "Having had the privilege of meeting some of the descendants of these service men and women, listening to their stories, and witnessing the deeply personal impact that this connection still holds, has been profoundly moving.

"These encounters have strengthened our motivation to find and connect with the families of all 59 service personnel commemorated on the Royal Doulton Memorial.

"By bridging the gap between historical records and living descendants, we feel we are breathing life back into the Royal Doulton Memorial, transforming a list of names into a shared human experience."

Project organisers are now publishing the full names recorded on both plaques and appealing to trace descendants and relatives.

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Anyone who may be related to the men named - or who hold photographs, letters, medals, employment records or family memories - have been encouraged to come forward by contacting [email protected] or calling 07989 980 016.

The names are to be commemorated at a Construction and Dedication of Memorials to Burslem's Fallen which will take place near Swan Square, Burslem in November 2026 – further details are set to be released in due course. 

Brief biographies on some of the men have been researched by the Burslem's War Memorials Steering Group, and can be found here.