Oldham Remembers 100 years since the end of the Battle of Passchendaele

Passchendaele Commemoration

Oldham is set to host a weekend of commemorative events to mark 100 years since the end of one of the bloodiest and muddiest battles in World War One – Passchendaele.

Residents and visitors are being encouraged to join in, attend the events and remember the soldiers and service personnel who lost their lives.

The events, organised by Oldham Council in partnership with the British Legion and Oldham Ex Service Men’s Association, will take place on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 October.

On Saturday a commemorative dinner will take place at Oldham Event Centre at 7pm (7.30pm start). There will be a three course meal, entertainment, live readings and performances. You will also get chance to pay respects to the fallen. Tickets cost £25 and can be purchased by calling Oldham Remembers on 0161 770 4621.

Profits from the dinner will be used to buy bronze plaques for soldiers who died in battle but whose names were missed off the original plaques located outside Oldham Parish Church.

On Sunday Oldham Parish Church will host a Service of Remembrance at 2pm.

Residents are invited to meet at the Civic Centre (Rochdale Road entrance) at 1.30pm and join the parade to the church together with the Armed Forces and the Mayor of Oldham.

Councillor Cath Ball, Assistant Cabinet Member for World War I Centenary, said: “The Battle of Passchendaele was one of the deadliest and muddiest battles in World War One and many residents will have relatives who died.

“There were around 400 soldiers with a connection to our borough so it’s only right we honour those who served and ensure that the lessons learnt live with us forever.

“If anyone would like to learn more, or to pay their respects, they can do that by attending the weekend events.”

Local people are alos being encouraged to get in touch with their photographs and stories from Passchendaele for Oldham Council’s, Oldham Remembers website.

This site is being kept up-to-date with stories from the war, names of soldiers who fought in the war and images of Oldham’s past. It aims to bring people from across the borough together in remembrance and can be found at:

www.oldhamremembers.org.uk

If you have any stories, images or items from the war and would like to share them contact:

oldhamremembers@oldham.gov.uk

0161 770 4621

Following the Passchendaele commemorations Oldham Council will be holding a special service to honour and remember Victoria Cross Recipient, Private Walter Mills, on 11 December, 11am, at Oldham Parish Church.

Everyone is encouraged to go along and pay their respects to the fallen local hero. Following the service a commemorative flagstone will be unveiled for Private Mills in the church grounds.