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Somme
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Somme. 01 July 2006
90 years on from one of the most disastrous periods in our history and possibly the last time any living member of the community affected will be able to stand shoulder to should with the generations that followed in there wake. BBC Radio Lancashire made it sound that Hyndburn had emptied into the streets to watch the civic parade pass from the Town Hall to St James’s Church Street gardens, alas at the church no more than a few hundred people stood in the Sun to hear the service delivered by the Rector of Accrington followed by Bible readings by the worshipful the Mayor, Dr Rahman and Cllr Peter Britcliffe. The whole thing was warm and cordial with little detraction beyond the distant murmur of traffic and the odd mobile phone going off in the back crowd. If one can enjoy such an affair then for me it was very enjoyable. I felt a wave of gratitude for the privilege to have been there both to those who laid down their lives “my family amongst them” and to those who came together to make this Service of Commemoration happen. Thank you. |
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It is sad to think that boys went out to war....feeling that they were embarking on a great adventure....for them never to return. While I couldn't be at the service, my thoughts were on those brave boys from our town....they fought for the freedoms that we enjoy today. We must remember them with pride.
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I'm glad Accrington had a memorial service. It's good to know that though those men are long gone they are not forgotten.
I had an uncle, by marriage, who, with his brother Leopold, fought on the Somme with the Essex Regiment. He lived to be over 90 and we didn't find out he had fought there until his funeral service; he had never talked about it. It must have been doubly hard for them as their father was German and was interned in the Isle of Man throughout the war, even though he had lived in England since 1890 and married an English woman. They called it the war to end all wars. So much sacrifice by so many men and the world still hasn't learned. It makes it all the more poignant. |
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I haven't been able to listen to the recording we've made of the play without crying yet. Even though we had rehearsals and knew what we were reading it is incredibly moving. I'm not claiming to be a great actress but I had to try and get under the skin of a young woman who's great love was leaving and who never returned. We should always remember how lucky we are in our present lives to not have to go through something so awful.
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What I would like to see come from this is an awakening in people and a move toward embracing our history without apologising for it. I like to see matters like these become part of educational syllabus and our children taught too remember those who serve with respect. |
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I put in a funding bid to the Heritage Lottery to fund an educational programme and pack but it got refused. I think they felt it was too localised and so not 'big' enough a project to fund. Shame, I agree with you Doug that it is only by teaching the reality of war that we can hope to avoid it in the future.
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Yes Accrington will always hold a special “Localised Relationship” with the Somme, but what they are missing is that this is about Community. By funding an educational programmeabout the AccringtonPals they would also be creating a template that would serve all those towns and villages whose people’s lives changed because of what was a world conflict. Community education is fundamental to going forward in this country and Communities are by there very nature are localised. |
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Perhaps I didn't get that all across in the bid.
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Do you know the Story of the Bruce and the Spider?
Valiance, Spirit and Perseverance – Try and try again |
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Well i went to this to take some pics but i thought the turnout was very poor so sorry only took these 4 pics even the army was not there.
There was buses waiting at the end of the prosession if you can call it that it was really a disapointment well i thought so anyway i thought all the services would turn out to pay there respects to these men who gave there lives. |
Freedom of Borough Speech
As promised....
Mr Mayor I would like to second the motion and contribute a few thoughts of my own if I may. Mr Mayor, Alderman, Councillors, Distinguished Guests Today is a very important day. It is day when we remember together our history and recognise the ultimate sacrifice given by our relatives and our community. To particularly remember the sacrifices of The Accrington Pals and the magnitude of that terrible day the 1st day in July 19 hundred and 16 where between Arras and Albert, 20,000 of our fellow citizens were killed in just one day, with 40,000 left maimed wounded and scarred by the horrors of war. We are gathered here today to remember Accrington’s historic contribution particularly on that day on the Somme, but not forgetting those in the regimnentwho lost their lives subsequently and those in the regiment who suffered the brutality of the war at the Battle of Arras, La Becque, Ayette, Lys; and that we also remember those who suffered in all wars. The 11th (Service) Battalion (Accrington) East Lancashire Regiment, better known as the Accrington Pals. A volunteer army of friends who enlisted together, fought together and ultimately died together. It is often said how with passing of time the memory fades, as generation passes through to generation. So it is with great honour we are here today to never forget. In remembering our past, it is important to future generations that we not only leave visual reminders but that we also remember the horrific nature. With the distance of time we must not sanitise history and in doing so loosen the ties to our heritage. For younger generations through the cinematic experience of the first 30 minutes of Enemy at the Gates, Saving Private Ryan, we can connect in some way with the harrowing circumstances endured on the Somme. In was in that very same 30 minutes that out of some 720 Accrington Pals who took part in the attack on the 1st July 1916, 585 men became casualties, 235 killed and 350 wounded. That week had begun with a long bombardment of German defences which were heavily fortified, made worse by many of the British shells failing to explode. When the bombardment began, the Germans simply moved underground and waited. At 7.20am, Captain Tough led the first of the battalion’s four waves. As the 11 British divisions walked towards the German lines, the machine guns started and the slaughter of the people of Accrington began. Brigadier-General H. C. Rees, GOC of 94th Brigade wrote in his diaries; “The result of the shells, shrapnel, machine-gun and rifle fire was such that hardly any of our men reached the German front trench. The lines which advanced in such admirable order, melted away under fire; yet not a man wavered, broke the ranks or attempted to go back. I have never seen, indeed could never have imagined such a magnificent display of gallantry, discipline and determination.” A Accrington’s Pals battalion signaller, observing from the rear, reported the horrors of what he saw: “We were able to see our comrades move forward in an attempt to cross No Man’s Land, only to be mown down like meadow grass. I felt sick at the sight of the carnage and remember weeping.” The losses were hard to bear in our community as with many others. Where nearly everyone had a relative or friend who had been killed or wounded. It is still something my Grandmother talks about today and her story is of the Ambulance Corps moving across the battlefield amongst the cries of the mortally wounded, those of our community who had made the biggest sacrifice of all to this borough, and this country in heinous circumstances, their life. And also my distant Aunt, Alderman Tom, her personal experiences and the losses suffered by her family. Her father was gassed at Ypres. My great Uncle Walter taken prisoner. Let us never forget what was given by our fellow Accringtonian’s in this war and all wars. And never let us never forget the silent victims; the relatives and families whose scars carried on long beyond the battlefield. I commend the motion laid out before this Council giving Freedom of the Borough to East Lancs Regiment, Thank you Mr Mayor. |
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An excellent speech Graham, perfectly hit the right tone.
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Britcliffe - what are you on about?
I agree that yesterdays service was brilliant. It does our town proud to remember the sacrifices made for us all BUT I hear that Britcliffe went on a bit of a rant about the World Cup in his speech. How the hell do you get a link from hundreds of Accy lads killed in the war and sodding football!!!!!!! More proof if it was needed that he has LOST THE PLOT
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I think he made a brief reference to people coming together and comradeship, any reference to the world cup was purely an analogy. Although I can’t commend the gentleman on the state of Hyndburn I cannot condemn the man for his contribution to the Commemoration Service which was in my view sincere, appropriate and above all relevant. Mick I’m sorry I didn’t see you there, I would have like too. Mr Jones. Thank you. |
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My late grandfather never knew his dad because while at the age of just one year old his father (P Dempsey) died on day one for the battle of the somme at the age of 23 alongside many of his Accrington pals.
+ Patrick ****** God bless. |
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My daughter and her friends were interviewed on radio lancashire on saturday morning. The school is doing a project on world war one called posters and propoganda. It involves looking at the effects of war on the families and comparing the posters with the reality of war. They are all drama students, but the project involves Drama, History and Art depts. My daughter has really enjoyed learning everything she can about this subject and all four of them wanted to stay for the parade and the service.
The project will be displayed in Haworth Art gallery over the summer. Try to get along and support our youngsters who are trying so hard to understand. |
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My grandparents lost their eldest son on the Somme - he wasn't killed outright, but died of wounds a couple of months later. And no, I'm not that old, just a rather strung-out family. I can't remember the name of the website, but if anyone does a Google search on "Accrington Pals", it should be easy enough to find.
It's hard to comprehend the suffering, not just of the men, but of those left behind. One woman in Lion Street, Church, lost her husband and her three sons. It doesn't bear thinking about. My Sunday paper had a picture in one of the supplements of cheerful young men, heading off to unspeakable carnage, smiling and giving a thumbs up to the camera. It made me weep. |
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The National Archives/PRO at Kew, togeather with the IWM, produced a pack for the 80th Somme Commemoration. This is the Accy Pals pack and contains copies of detailed maps, a synopsis of the battle, extracts from the battalion war diary, and then detailed war records of one pal (from Rishton). I'm sure these were for sale in the Town Hall at the time, although I got mine from Kew..and still have it. This is possibly another reason why your programme & pack was refused...the pack already exists. |
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Quite possibly Tealeaf.
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I think my daughter (she's an AccyWeb member having a birthday today) may know your daughter. She was there too and was the first one asked to speak but she didn't want to speak first so ended up saying nothing! This after I'd rushed about to be near a radio so I could listen to her!:D I couldn't be there in person because I had to be in Blackburn on Saturday morning.:( |
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Yes Willow I know your daughter and I told her not to worry as she was a little disappointed afterwards. It is very scary having a microphone pushed towards you.
How did they come across on the radio? I couldn't hear them very well as I didn't want to get too close to them and put them off. |
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Got back from a tour of the battlefields and graves of the Somme at 12:15 this morning. We managed to miss the media at the larger memorials by rejiggling the schedule and as a special request we visited the Pals memorial. It`s set quite a way from the main road, up a track and is situated at the corner edge of the woods, just in front of the trench line. The forest is pine and Saturday when we visited gave respite from the hot sun. Through the forest, which is dotted with shell holes, you reach the forward trench and then Railway Hill cemetary, where 57 of the Pals are buried. This cemetary as all war cemetaries in France and Belgium is meticulosly maintained by the Commenwealth War Graves Committee. At each cemetary is a small vault in the wall which holds a record of all the graves at that site together with a visitors book. The site, once the coach parties had left was incredibly peaceful, with a spectacular view over the surrounding countryside and the memorial of Accrington brick and black marble does stand out as something special due to its location and design. I`d recommend anyone visiting that area to stop off, make a short walk and pay your respects to the brave men of the area.
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I wonder if anyone can make any sense of this (I have my own ideas, but I'd like to see some others first):
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/City-Of-Accrin...ayphotohosting |
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An educated guess - it was a medal given out to all the children in the borough to celebrate Peace Day on July 19th 1919 - the date of the official national celebrations of the Allied victory.
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I wish my eyesight was better...but it looks to me that the medal is something else...much later. I shall reserve my comments for the ribbon until there are a few more posts.
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The lettering around the coat-of-arms side says: Borough Of Accrington Celebration Of Peace. The lettering around the other side, apart from saying Peace 1919 also says: In Commemoration Of The Great War 1914-1918.
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OK....well that demolishes my earlier theory!
But just to evolve the thread once again...I don't know how many people on here visit Andrew Jackson's brilliant website on the Pals. It is regularly updated and the last update was the end of June. This is probably the best yet, with footage of the Pals marching, back in Accy in 1915. Here is the link: http://www.pals.org.uk/film/film1.htm |
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Thanks for the link, Tealeaf, fascinating stuff.
Just out of interest, what was your earlier theory? |
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Err......I thought it was the 50th Anniversary Corporation of Accrington Medal (1878-1928) with a bit of French ribbon tagged on. These things do happen!
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Well, there was a Golden Jubilee medal, although i've never seen one. Must admit the ribbon colours had me wondering a bit too, but I suppose it's just the red, white and blue of the Union flag.
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Yeah...I suppose they could have used the colours of the East Lancs regiment (Red & Maroon, as in Accy Corporation Buses) but that may have upset all those who served in other regiments, corps, etc.
Back to the film footage...any theories on exactly where that may have been shot? I thought somewhere on the road between Intack & West End...but then there are an awful lot of onlookers (which would suggest that the pavements from West End into Accy, through Church would have been packed) |
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Hmmm...hard to tell, really. I'd say West End.
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Well, its a hedge in the background with four or five people around the post (all men)...I think there is a youngster who makes an appearance in the last few frames. There are only two possibilities..between Intack & West End and between West End and Church (by the canal bank). Trouble is, we don't know who the photographer is or if there was any accompaning notes.
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I reckon it's where that used car place is (or was) near Blythes...but that's a total guess!
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Something else,. I make the clip lasting just under a minute in which we see about 200 men, roughly company strength, togeather with band, (which is not at the front of the column) Maybe there is a fuller version in the archive which covers the entire battion or maybe what we are seeing is the Accrington Company or possibly the District Company, with the Burnley and the Chorley pals having gone their own way.
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Would've thought that the Chorley and Blackburn divisions had gone their own way and that what we see is a section of the Accrington and Burnley divisions on their way to their respective home towns to embark on the recruiting drive which is mentioned...but again just guesswork. It'd be great to find out more background info about this fascinating snippet of film.
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Well, 1st August was a sunday & if you follow the link from the film to the still photographs you get a couple of shots of the town centre. I don't think the deck was as crowded in your day!
It looks like it was the entire battalion and what we see in the film exert is exactly that...just some of the battalion that came past. I would guess that the people watching from the road at West End would be doing so because it was one of the better places to get a view. |
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I've watched it a few more times and I've changed my mind about the location. I reckon it's somewhere between the Old Mother Redcap and the farmhouse at West End.
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Yeah...I agree. The post that you see in the background has got to be for the trams. It also seems to be on a slight incline, so I suspect it is this specific stretch of road:
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Andrew |
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Cheers :) |
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That piece of film was taken coming up the hill from the Old Mother Redcap. The men are from Accrington & Burnley Coy's, the Chorley lads were enjoying some home leave. The Accrington lads were given leave, whilst the Burnley lads carried on to Burnley. I recognised some of the Accrington lads when I saw the film at the Town Hall.
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