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First World War local monument unveiled

Martin Purdy
11/ 7/2008

IT’S taken two years of fundraising, the work of master craftsmen from around the UK, and the help of the Army, but a memorial to commemorate the sacrifices of local soldiers in the First World War has finally been unveiled.

The Advertiser helped launch the appeal for a monument to remember the dead of the 12th Manchester Battalion back in July 2006.

The response from readers was magnificent, and on Sunday the pipes will sound and the national anthem echo across foreign fields once more as the Union Jack is removed from the completed memorial on the Somme in northern France.

The lasting landmark will provide a focal point for the sacrifices of the battalion to be remembered by future generations.

It was on the morning of July 7, 1916, that the lads of the 12th Manchesters went ‘over the top’ for the first time at a small village called Contalmaison.

They would have to dash across 700 yards of open ground in broad daylight, and with no covering artillery fire, to attack a German stronghold.

Before the morning was out 16 officers and 539 men were killed, missing or wounded. This from an initial fighting strength of 1,000 men.

Among the dead were more than 20 men from North East Manchester, including the likes of William Bagley, of Harpurhey, and John England of Miles Platting.

In addition, many of the wounded were men from this area.

The carnage of the day resulted in an oak cross being unveiled by survivors of the battalion in 1927, which was replaced two years later with a granite monument in the village cemetery in Contalmaison.

However, battlefield tour guides had pointed out that few people were aware of its existence.

The Lancashire and Cheshire branch of international charity The Western Front Association decided that something should be done and launched an appeal.

The result of their efforts is a new stone memorial, quarried in Scotland, which will be unveiled with a bronze plaque explaining what happened on the fateful morning. Road signs have also been put up to direct people to it.

John Richardson, of the local branch of the Western Front Association, explained: "The new memorial was important. It not only marks the events of July 7, 1916, but pays tribute to all of the men from the battalion who went on to give their lives – more than 1,000 of them.

"While the 12th Manchesters were formed in Ashton, the men came from all over Greater Manchester and it was excellent that people from across the county have helped us with the fundraising."

The unveiling, on Sunday, July 6, saw a coach party travel from Manchester for the event.

The Somme Pipe Band, along with soldiers in period dress, led a parade to the memorial which was unveiled at a short ceremony also attended by the villagers of Contalmaison and the town Mayor.

Mr Richardson also paid tribute to the modern army for helping make the event possible – especially men of the 75th Royal Engineers, who are based at Failsworth, Oldham.

In Mr Richardson’s words, they "saved the day" after taking over the component parts of the monument to France and then erecting it with heavy lifting gear.

Sergeant Jason Shawcross, of the territorial unit, said: "It was an honour to help out.

"We are very aware of the history of the local regiments and the great sacrifices made by an army made up principally of civilian volunteers."

The Memorial Appeal is still a few hundred pounds short of its full target.

Any late donations would be much appreciated and should be sent to: John Richardson, 12th Manchester Appeal, WFA, PO Box 1918, Stockport, SK4 4WN. Cheques should be made payable to ‘WFA Lancashire and Cheshire Branch’.