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ONE hundred years ago on 1 st July 1916, at 7.30am on that fateful first day of the Battle of the Somme, the 11th (Service) Battalion, The East Lancashire Regiment (Accrington), or as we know them, the Accrington Pals, went ‘over the top’, walking into No Man’s Land under the cover of artillery and mortar fire.
The Pals suffered severe losses and over 600 casualties, leaving the community back home shattered and hardly anyone untouched, with so many losing husbands, sons, brothers, uncles, friends and neighbours.
It’s hard to contemplate the terrible shock, horror and grief which would consume their family and friends, as the earth shattering news of the fate of their loved ones on that devastating first day of the Battle of the Somme filtered through.
I’ve heard it said that almost every home in Accrington had their blinds down, or their curtains drawn and the bell at Christ Church tolled all day. The Pals’ huge bravery and sacrifice and that of their comrades who fought and fell in World War One, must never be forgotten, and so I hope you will join us at the many commemorative events taking place to mark the centenary of the Accrington Pals’ devastating losses and to mark the sacrifice of all those who fell in the Great War. This Saturday the bandstand in Oakhill Park in Accrington will host the first ever Pals Prom; on Armed Forces Day on June 25. There will be lots of family activities from 11am, followed later by the first ever Accrington Pals Prom, featuring performances by the East Lancashire Concert Band at 6pm.
On June 30 the March to the Front event will take place from 5.30pm to 8pm, featuring community walks from townships in the Borough, meeting at Oakhill Park.
This will replicate the march of the Accrington Pals to the front on June 30, 1916. Part of this event is Falling - a visual art performance which will take place at 7pm in Oakhill Park, featuring local people representing Accrington Pals. Later that evening on June 30, the Royal British Legion, Accrington, will lead a candlelit vigil at the Pals Memorial on Church Street, Accrington, from 9-10pm to remember the Accrington Pals and all those who fell on July 1, 1916.
On July 1 we are holding a Battle of the Somme Centenary service at the Pals Memorial, Accrington from 7.20am. Please join us at this special early morning service which will commemorate the call for the Pals to go over the top at 7.30am. A similar service will take place at the Pals memorial in Serre, France, at same time, attended by the Mayor and Mayoress.
Later from 9am there will be a Roll Call of those who served in the Pals on Broadway in Accrington, so please come along to pay your respects. Visit www. hyndburnbc.gov.uk or call 01254 388111 for more details of all the events.
The commemoration events are the result of a lot of hard work from volunteers and people 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.
The Pals centenary events are for everyone, across the Borough, to recognise and commemorate the Pals and their sacrifice and place in the borough’s history, so come along if you can.