Anniversary tribute to war dead

IN the trenches . . . at the Battle of the Somme

OLDHAM is set to host a number of events and activities to mark 100 years since the start of the one of bloodiest episodes in military history ­- the Battle of the Somme.

Oldham Council is encouraging residents to join in and help remember those service personnel who lost their lives.

The battle was fought between July 1 and November, 1916, near the Somme river in northern France.

On the first day alone, the British suffered some 20,000 losses.

The famous Oldham Pals battalion took part in the battle. On July 14 its members were ordered to follow up an attack on the village of Bazentin-le-Petit.

Two platoons were commandeered to help clear the enemy from nearby woods, while another platoon had to down tools to repel the enemy with rifle fire from a cemetery they were turning into a strong point.

By the end of the campaign more than one million men from the Allies and Central Powers had been wounded or killed.

To mark the start of the battle a century ago the bell in Oldham Parish Church will toll for 15 minutes at 7.30am on Friday, July 1. Councillor Cath Ball is the assistant cabinet member for World War I Centenary.

She said: "The Battle of the Somme is one of the darkest periods in military history and many residents will have relatives who died.

"That's why it is our duty to honour those who served, to remember those who died and to ensure that the lessons learnt live with us forever.

"If you would like to learn more, you can do that by attending the various events that have been organised."

Events

Events across the borough which locals can take part in include:

* Candlelit vigils, 9.30pm, Thursday, June 30, various war memorials.

Vigils will be held across Britain, with community groups, families and friends asked to come together and organise their own vigils at their nearest war memorial.

* Oldhamers and the Battle of the Somme. Opens Friday, July 1.

This display at Oldham Local Studies and Archives, 84 Union Street, Oldham, shows how Oldham and its residents were affected by one of the defining moments in British history.

At the same venue on Wednesday, July 20, at 7pm there will be a talk by a local historian entitled "A Tour of the Somme Battlefield Cemeteries", and on Wednesday, September 21, at 7pm there will be a showing of the 1916 documentary film "The Battle of the Somme". Booking is essential - call 0161-770 4654 for tickets.

* Sides of Silence: Remembering the Battle of the Somme. Friday, July 1, at 6.50am in Oldham Local Studies and Archives Centre.

An immersive theatre experience performed by members of Oldham Theatre Workshop ­- starting at the time hostilities commenced. Booking is essential, call 0161-770 4654 for tickets.

* National Service of Remembrance: Manchester Cathedral. Friday, July 1, at 3pm. Entry is by invitation only but Manchester Council will be putting large screens up outside for the public to watch. Also on that day there is a free concert in Heaton Park. Tickets can be ordered on www.quaytickets.com/sommeheatonpark.

*Service of Remembrance: Battle of the Somme, Sunday, July 3, from Oldham Civic Centre to Oldham Parish Church.

A Service of Remembrance at 2pm in Oldham Parish Church. Families and friends of people who fought at this battle, which lasted 141 days, are asked to walk from the Civic Centre (meeting at the Rochdale Road entrance) to Oldham Parish Church from 1pm.

Battle of the Somme Dinner, Friday, July 15, Oldham Event Centre at 7.30pm.

There will also be music, entertainment, and a raffle. Tickets are £25.

Call 0161-652 9464 or visit www.oldham.gov.uk/battleofthesomme for tickets.

Stories

To mark 100 years since the start of the First World War, the Chronicle has been asking local people to get in touch with photographs and stories that we can include on our Oldham Remembers website.

The site is being kept up to date with stories from the war, names of soldiers who fought in the war and images of Oldham's past.

It aims to bring people from across the borough together in remembrance and can be found at www.oldhamremembers.org.uk

Email oldhamremembers@oldham.gov.uk or call 0161 770 3297 if you want to get involved or have any information you would like to see on the website.