Heartfelt tribute left for 'Oldham Pals'

WREATH ... in memory of the "Oldham Pals"

THIS is a heartfelt tribute left in France in honour of the Oldham soldiers who died in the Battle of the Somme 100 years ago.

Sandra Dickinson (52), a teacher at St Joseph's School in Shaw, went to Thiepval, France with her daughter Katherine (21) for the Somme commemoration last Friday.

There, they noticed that someone had laid a wreath in memory of the Oldham Pals who had served in the First World War and took this picture.

Sandra said: "I really wanted to go. It was like a pilgrimage in a way.

"It as a very moving ceremony and we got the chance to look around.

"We were looking at the wreaths and my daughter spotted one from Oldham.

"Someone must have been there from Oldham to lay it. I have no idea who.

"I found it a very moving experience. My daughter is interested in history and politics so it was a good opportunity for her to come with me."

Last Friday marked the 100th anniversary of the start of the Battle of the Somme, which was one of the bloodiest in British military history.

The battle took place between July 1 and November 18, 1916 near the River Somme, France.

More than one million men were wounded or killed in the bloodshed.

Among these was the 24th Battalion of the Manchester Regiment and the 'Oldham Comrades', civilian soldiers also known as the 'Oldham Pals'.