Public tribute to war dead

THE First wreath was laid by Mayor of Oldham Cllr Derek Heffernan on behalf of the people of the borough

PEOPLE of Oldham attended a service to commemorate the centenary of the Battle of Jutland where 20 local men lost their lives.

Service men and civilians gathered by the Oldham War Memorial at 11am yesterday on the anniversary of the only major naval battle in the First World War - May 31, 1916 - which took place in the North Sea.

Mayor of Oldham Derek Heffernan and chairman of the Deputy Lieutenant Committee Oldham, John Battye, along with others, laid wreaths at the base of the memorial during the service which was performed by Reverend Derek Palmer while bearers held standards in tribute.

Mayor Derek Heffernan said: "It is important that we remember those who died.

"We are in a period now that the people of Oldham must remember not only the people they lost but all the others who died.

"We remember 20 sons of Oldham but there were over 6,000 naval personal from Great Britain and 2,500 Germans, they were the enemy in those days and they are now our friends."

Oldham Sea Cadets attended the service which included the reading of 'My Boy Jack' by Rudyard Kipling and 'A Prayer of Sir Francis Drake'.

Wreaths were then placed on the memorial whilst the names of those who fell during the battle were read followed by a reading of 'The Exhortation', a two minutes silence and the singing of the national anthem.

Cllr Cath Ball, assistant cabinet member for World War 1 Centenary, said: "Although the Battle of Jutland was the only major naval battle of the war it is seen as a major turning point in the conflict.

"Many Oldham residents bravely played their part and sadly some of them never came home.

"That's why it is important that we remember those who served their country."

The battle was fought over 36 hours with the loss of 6,094 British seamen and 2,551 Germans, but the Germans failed to break the blockade of the North Sea by the British.

For more information about those who lost their lives in the battle visit oldhamremembers.org.uk.