Council Leader, Cllr Miles Parkinson, said: “The Pals’ huge bravery and sacrifice and that of their comrades who fought and fell in World War One, must never be forgotten, it was wonderful that so many people came along to the many commemorative events which took place across the Borough to mark the centenary of the Accrington Pals' devastating losses and to mark the sacrifice of all those who fell in the Great War.”
Somme Commemoration events included the March to the Front, replicating the march of the Accrington Pals to the front on 30 June 1916. Part of this event was 'Falling'- a stunning visual art performance at 7pm in Oakhill Park, featuring local people representing the Accrington Pals.
The Pals Memorial in Accrington was the site of a number of poignant and moving commemorative events. A candle lit vigil was held by the Royal British Legion on the eve of the Battle of the Somme Centenary, followed the morning after by a Civic Commemoration, led by Rev Ian Enticott, to mark one hundred years since the Pals went 'over the top'. The whistle was blown at 7.30am by Corporal Oliver Gillibrand of the 4th Battalion Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment.
A similar service, led by lay reader Cllr Judith Addison, took place at the Pals memorial in Serre, France at the same time. It was attended by the Mayor Cllr Tim O’Kane and Mayoress Mrs Melanie Storey and a party including members of the Great War Society, nine year old Emily-Rose Hughes, representing the Royal British Legion and six year old Luke Holmes, the grandson of Pals Historian Walter Holmes and great, great nephew of Accrington Pal, Walter Holmes.
Cllr O’Kane said, “The service on the Somme was poignant and well attended. We could hear the skylarks singing and moving about at the start of the service and you could have heard a pin drop when the whistles sounded to advance into no man’s land.”
Lois Broderick laid a wreath at the Commemoration and later read names of the Pals at the roll call in honour of her father, the late Bill Turner, renowned historian and author of many books about the Pals.
Jeremy Harvard, who had travelled from Australia for the Commemorations laid a wreath in honour of his Grandfather, Accrington Pal, Sgt George Haynes, at the Civic Commemoration and also read his name at the roll call.
Jeremy said; “It was a very touching and poignant ceremony, sending us a message from the past that we can take to the future. We need to keep their memory alive.”
Cllr Parkinson added; The Pals centenary events were a chance for everyone, to recognise and commemorate the Pals and their sacrifice and their place in the borough’s rich history, so it’s great that so many people came along and supported the events.
Cllr Parkinson concluded; “The commemoration events are the result of a lot of hard work of Council staff, the Royal British Legion and volunteers involved with the Accrington Pals Centenary Commemorations Group, which is made up of members of the community including Pals experts; historians; local craftspeople; people involved in drama; local voluntary groups and the Council, and a huge thank you should go to them.”
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