Battle of Somme commemoration

A ceremony of commemoration was held by Cheshire East Council to mark the centenary of the first day of the Battle of the Somme.

Veterans groups, dignitaries, schoolchildren and other members of the public gathered for a poignant ceremony and wreath laying at Nantwich War Memorial.

The Battle of the Somme, which began at 7.30am on July 1, 1916 is the single bloodiest day in British military history.

The British Army suffered a staggering 57,540 casualties that day, of which 19,240 were killed.

The battle lasted until November 18, 1916 and was one of the costliest of the First World War. In total, more than one million soldiers were killed or wounded.

A short service of remembrance was led by the Reverend Stephen Snelling, associate rector of St Mary's Nantwich. This was followed by a poetry reading from two schoolchildren from St Oswald's Worleston Primary School. There was also a performance of songs from the Nantwich Young Voices choir.

Mayor of Cheshire East, Councillor Olivia Hunter, said: "It is important that we remember the sacrifice of those that went to war 100 years ago and also the families that they left behind.

"I was particularly touched that each of the 200 schoolchildren laid a flower of remembrance at the service. This shows that the spirit of remembrance continues to pass through the generations."

Audlem Councillor Rachel Bailey, Leader of Cheshire East Council, said: "There were few families in Cheshire who did not suffer some loss during this cataclysmic and brutal battle. It is only right that 100 years on, we pay tribute to their great sacrifice."

The ceremony was attended by representatives of the Royal British Legion, Cheshire Regiment Association, Cheshire East Council and Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire David Briggs as well as seven local schools.

The commemorative event was part of the Council's four-year programme of remembrance of the sacrifice by the people of Cheshire East during the First World War.

Cheshire East will be marking a number of key anniversaries in the period up to November 11th, 2018, when the centenary of the signing of the Armistice will be commemorated.

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