EVENTS are being held across the town tomorrow to honour the 300 men from Barnsley who died 100 years ago on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.
The Chronicle is urging every reader to mark this occasion by either attending one of the numerous commemoration events being held across the borough – or simply stopping what they are doing to reflect on the sacrifice those young men made all those years ago.
They gave their lives – but will you give them a few minutes of your time to remember them? It’s the least we can do to ensure that the horrible events of that bright, sunny, Saturday morning in northern France on July 1, 1916, are never forgotten.
Tomorrow the Barnsley Chronicle will wear a commemorative ‘jacket’ - four pages dedicated to those men. In it, you will find reflections from their descendants, from men who interviewed the survivors, and some thoughts of the men themselves recorded in the pages of history.
You will also see a number of black and white photographs have been painstakingly converted into colour by designers at Pen and Sword books, which attempt to paint a vivid picture of the Somme.
The battle – which raged until November – would claim the lives of some 800 Barnsley men – 800 husbands, fathers, sons who never returned to their families. They were not all Barnsley Pals. On the first day alone, Barnsley men from about 35 different battalions were killed.
The event at the Barnsley War Memorial, in front of the town hall, will be taking place from 12.45pmtomorrow, with a service starting promptly at 1pm. Pupils from 11 schools will be taking part in the event, which will include the unveiling of a public artwork dedicated to the fallen which they have helped to create in partnership with Experience Barnsley.
The event at Silverwood – a Pals training camp – includes a service at 2pm in the outdoor chapel.
The full roundup of events includes:
6.30am, Barnsley War Memorial, vigil and laying of Barnsley War Memorials Project wreath
7.30am, Dodworth War Memorial, period of reflection
7.30am, Silverwood Scout Camp, Barnsley Pals Scooter Club tribute
7.30am, Hoyland War Memorial
10am, Penistone War Memorial, service and reading of names
11am, Dodworth War Memorial, service led by Dodworth War Memorial Group and Church Council
11am, Elsecar Holy Trinity Church, lighting of candle and prayers
11am, Wombwell Library, display of photographs and information with two minutes’ silence
11am Silkstone War Memorial
12.45pm, Barnsley War Memorial, Civic commemoration
1.30pm to 3pm, Silverwood Scout Camp, service and displays
6pm, Wombwell Cemetery Barnsley Pals memorial service
7pm, Holy Rood Church, George Street, commemorative mass
