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Unveiling of WWI Pals' memorial | Unveiling of WWI Pals' memorial |
(20 minutes later) | |
A memorial has been unveiled after three years of fundraising to the 222 Chorley Pals who served in World War I. | |
The 7ft (2m)-high statue of a uniformed soldier on a plinth, overlooking Chorley's main market, was unveiled in an official ceremony on Sunday. | The 7ft (2m)-high statue of a uniformed soldier on a plinth, overlooking Chorley's main market, was unveiled in an official ceremony on Sunday. |
It features the names of the men who served with the company. | It features the names of the men who served with the company. |
The Chorley Pals eventually joined the better-known Accrington Pals and were decimated at the opening of the Battle of the Somme on 1 July 1916. | The Chorley Pals eventually joined the better-known Accrington Pals and were decimated at the opening of the Battle of the Somme on 1 July 1916. |
The unveiling was to mark 95 years since the Pals left the town to go to war. | The unveiling was to mark 95 years since the Pals left the town to go to war. |
'Brave men' | 'Brave men' |
A parade of soldiers from the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, accompanied by their regimental band and colour party, left the TA Centre in Devonshire Road. | A parade of soldiers from the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, accompanied by their regimental band and colour party, left the TA Centre in Devonshire Road. |
They retraced the steps the Chorley Pals took when they marched off to war in February 1915. | They retraced the steps the Chorley Pals took when they marched off to war in February 1915. |
Before the ceremony, six members of the Manchester Regiment 1914-1918 were "on parade" in front of the memorial, dressed in uniforms and kit from the period. | Before the ceremony, six members of the Manchester Regiment 1914-1918 were "on parade" in front of the memorial, dressed in uniforms and kit from the period. |
Steve Williams, Chorley Pals Memorial Secretary and Trustee, said: "The memorial has generated a tremendous amount of interest over the last three years." | Steve Williams, Chorley Pals Memorial Secretary and Trustee, said: "The memorial has generated a tremendous amount of interest over the last three years." |
Pals' relatives | Pals' relatives |
When war broke out in August 1914, Capt James Milton from Chorley formed a Pals battalion with 30 local men signing up. They went on to join a newly-raised battalion at Accrington. | When war broke out in August 1914, Capt James Milton from Chorley formed a Pals battalion with 30 local men signing up. They went on to join a newly-raised battalion at Accrington. |
They eventually became the Y Company of the 11th Battalion of the East Lancashire Regiment. | They eventually became the Y Company of the 11th Battalion of the East Lancashire Regiment. |
MP Lindsay Hoyle, who was involved in the fundraising for the statue, performed the official opening. | MP Lindsay Hoyle, who was involved in the fundraising for the statue, performed the official opening. |
Relatives of the Pals, civic leaders, and representatives of the Royal British Legion, Chorley Ex-Service Association and the Duke of Lancaster's Regimental Association took part in the ceremony. | Relatives of the Pals, civic leaders, and representatives of the Royal British Legion, Chorley Ex-Service Association and the Duke of Lancaster's Regimental Association took part in the ceremony. |