Wreath laid at memorial
A WREATH was laid at the Accrington Pals Memorial on Church Street, on Thursday, July 1, to commemorate the anniversary of The
Battle of the Somme.
The ceremony was attended by representatives from the Royal British Legion, Father David Arnold, Hyndburn council leader Coun Miles Parkinson, Mayor of Hyndburn Coun Kath Pratt, and Leader of the Opposition Coun Marlene Haworth.
The poem, ‘A Soldiers Cemetery’ by John Williams Streets, was read by the Mayor of Hyndburn, a prayer delivered by Father David Arnold and an extract from ‘For the Fallen’ poem, by Laurence Binyon, read by Trevor Dawson of the Royal British Legion.
The last post was played and a silence observed to remember all those who have fallen.
Coun Parkinson said with Covid restrictions in place, they could not commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of the Somme with a full service.
He added: “We paid our respects on behalf of Hyndburn by laying a wreath at the Accrington Pals Memorial in a small ceremony.
“We commemorate all those who lost their lives, their bravery and sacrifice.
“We will remember them.”
The Accrington Pals are interweaved into the fabric of Hyndburn’s history. Forming a battalion to fight in the first world war, many men from the community answered Kitchener’s call to join up.
On July 1, 1916, during the fateful first day of the Battle of the Somme, they suffered severe losses and more than
600 casualties. The community back home was left shattered, and all were touched with so many losing husbands, sons, brothers, uncles, friends and neighbours.