The 1^st of July saw many local and national commemorations of the 100 year anniversary of the beginning of The Battle of the Somme.

Salford Angels WI were honoured to be asked to be part of Salford Councils events to remember all those involved.

On that day, 100 years ago, the bloodiest battle in British warfare history began. On the first day of the battle nearly 60,000 British soldiers died, many of them in Pals Battalions.

The ‘Pals’ were exactly that, friends from work, church, pubs and streets. All fighting together, volunteers, doing their bit.

On that day the 1^st Salford Pals fighting at Thiepval sent 24 officers and 650 men over the top. 21 officers and 449 men did not return.

Salford City honoured those and all the others with a ceremony held at 11am at the civic centre.

A recording recounting the story of the men who fought and the impact of their loss on the streets, families, friends and loved ones from Salford, Britain and beyond was played.

Two Salford Angels WI members were voices on this recording, Charlotte Pritchard and Sam Smith.

There was then a simple, poignant wreath laying at the Cenotaph, with a wreath from the Mayor, floral bouquets from the Armed Services, Police, Fire Service, Nurses, Council Workers, youth players from Eccles RUFC who had lost members of their team at the Somme and Salford Angels WI President Suzanne Rigg laid a wreath in our colours of purple, green and white.

By the end of the battle, 114 days later, nearly a million men, on both sides had died and changed the lives of their families back home forever.

We will remember them……..Now and always…….