Fusiliers set to go on parade again to mark golden days
GENERATIONS of soldiers are taking to Rochdale’s streets to celebrate 50 years of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.
The parade on Saturday 28 April is one of many happening across the country - and will bring together fusiliers past and present, along with young cadets.
It celebrates 50 years since the UK’s four Fusilier regiments, including the famous Lancashire Fusiliers, were merged into one organisation in 1968.
The parade will begin at 11.15am on Yorkshire Street, and at 11.30am there will be a salute at Rochdale Cenotaph.
A reception at Rochdale Town Hall will follow.
Caen Matthews, armed forces lead officer at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “It will be a really special day to see generations of fusiliers marking this historic moment.
“We have people from across the armed forces community joining the parade, so let’s hope people line the streets of Rochdale and we have an anniversary event to remember.”
The Lancashire Fusiliers became famous after winning ‘six Victoria Crosses before breakfast’ in the Gallipoli landings in 1915.
They were awarded the freedom of the borough of Rochdale in 1947 - an honour now transferred to the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.
The last Fusiliers march in Rochdale was 2013’s homecoming parade for soldiers returning from service in Afghanistan.