Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric
I may be straying into "it's none of my business" territory, but I'm surprised that Accrington doesn't do more to remember the Pals on July 1. In most of Canada, the significance of the day passes unnoticed because not too many places felt the concentrated effect that communities that raised Pals battallions must have felt. The one place that did raise a battallion based on Pals' principles was Newfoundland, which, at the time was not part of Canada. And in Newfoundland, July 1 is Memorial Day (the University in St. John's is Memorial University) ... this is a day set aside when, hopefully, people will remember the action of the Newfoundlanders at Beaumont Hamel (As Retlaw will be able to inform you, this is very close to where the Pals attacked at Serre). The Newfie's divisional commander said of their attack what could be applied with equal accuracy to the attack of the Pals: "It was a magnificent display of trained and disciplined valour, and its assault failed of success because dead men can advance no further."
But it is reassuring that there are people like Retlaw working to keep alive a memory that can't be allowed to die.
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Hi Eric.
Bill Turner and I struggled for nigh on 12 months to get a regognition for them on the 90th anniversay in 2006.
We had a display at the Haworth Art Gallery (which was more like a mini fete) and accy observer reluctantly produce a suppliment, based on our research of July 1st.
If Bill was around we would probably have had something this year. Meeting people and getting them to organise things, Bill was good at. Me I work best behind the scenes, I'm no good at diplomacy and bull, more than likely to upset every one by being too outspoken, especially to local officials who think they are somebody.
Retlaw.