1916 Somme film is star of the show at special historical society exhibition
A SPECIAL showing of the official film of The Battle of The Somme drew packed audiences to Bacup Natural History Society.
The film, which has been digitally remastered by the Imperial War Museum, was first shown in Bacup for three nights on September 21-23 in 1916 at Art Pictures, now the Royal Court Theatre in Rochdale Road.
Photograph librarian Wendy Lord said: “As well as the film, we also had an exhibition showing the local lads who died at The Battle of The Somme.
“Two soldiers – Private William Cook of Comet Street, Weir, and Private John Winter, of Kiln Terrace, Stacksteads – were Accrington Pals who died on that first day.
“We had First World War lace on show that had been brought back from The Somme and was donated to The Nat by Annie Higginson whose father had bought it while he was serving in the First World War.”
Also on show was a scale model of a Holt Caterpillar built by George Rodgett who had been a mechanic and worked on the vehicle during the First World War.
The model, built in his workshop in Stacksteads, took three years to finish; he was 72 when it was completed and he later donated it to The Nat.
When the film was first shown in Bacup in 1916, the agreed schedule was shelved to offer the free viewings to the masses.
Michael and Betty Walton, from Halifax, called into the museum and Michael said: “I like Bacup and we get the bus here from Todmorden. I have always wanted to come into the museum, but it wasn’t open so when we were told in the library about this event, we had to come.
“We have now had chance to see round the museum and it is brilliant. There are even some things in the local history section that I remembered.”
Fred Heap, from Todmorden, said: “I was brought up in Bacup and the film makes you think about what the young soldiers had to suffer.
“They were 18, 19, and 20 and they must have been terrified. I did my national service for two years in the Royal Engineers in Kenya. The film was really quite moving and made you think, ‘Thank goodness it wasn’t me’.”
Wendy added: “We were delighted that so many people came to watch the film. It is important that we do not forget what happened and people remember the sacrifice so many made.”