4 August 2014

CEREMONY TO MARK THE CENTENARY OF THE OUTBREAK OF WORLD WAR ONE

It is 100 years today that Great Britain declared war on Germany, in what turned out to be a catacylismic event both for this nation and the world.

Britain lost over 908,000 men killed or died later from wounds received, over 2 million were injured and over 190,000 prisoners or missing.

It was with this in mind, that the Spenborough Branch provided a ceremony to mark the centenary of the outbreak of The Great War, known later as World War One.

The ceremony was held today, 4 August 2014 at 10.30am in the Cleckheaton Memorial Park on a glorious summers day and was attended by some 300 people.

The Branch Chaplain, The Reverend Brunel James, led the service and was assisted by The Reverend Roger Smith.

At 11.00 am precisely, the Union Flag was ceremoniously lowered to half mast to the backdrop of the chimes and strikes of Big Ben.

After the Last Post, Exhortation, two minute silence, Reveille and Kohima Epitaph, wreaths and flowers were laid by:

The Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Mr Gordon Tollefson CStJ, JP, DL, FRSPH, ACH on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen.

The Mayor of Kirklees, Councillor Ken Smith, laid a wreath on behalf of Kirklees Council.

The Armed Forces wreath on behalf of all serving members, was laid by Warrant Officer Class II Lee Backhouse of the Coldstream Guards.

Mr Robert Mortimer, County President, The Royal British Legion, South and West Yorkshire laid a wreath on behalf of all service men and women who died as a result of serving their country during World War One.

In honour of the mothers, wives and children affected by the war, Mrs Audrey Mills, Chair of The Royal British Legion, Women's Section, Spenborough Branch, laid a floral tribute. She was assisted by two children, Hanna James and Rafi Midgley, who both laid a long stemmed white rose.

After the singing of two verses of The National Anthem, the parade was reformed by Branch Chairman, Eddie Morton and marched off, the salute being taken by The Deputy Lieutenant, Mayor of Kirklees and WOII Lee Backhouse.

The Branch Chairman, Mr Eddie Morton, expressed the Branch's thanks to The Women's Section, Spenborough Branch for providing the refreshments and to St Paul's Catholic Church for the use of their hall.

Click on a thumbnail below to see the slide show.