Restored military drums unveiled

RESTORED military drums and other instruments will be unveiled at Oldham Civic Centre next week.

Members of Oldham’s 41st/47th Royal Tank Regiment Association raised funds to revive the silver-plated snare, tenor and bass drums, which date back to 1924. They were originally paid for by the people of Oldham for the first local battalion of the Manchester Regiment.

They feature the engraved names of 617 Manchester Regiment soldiers who died in the First World War. It was later discovered that 640 troops lost their lives but the additional names were never added. The restored instruments will be unveiled at 11.30am on Wednesday at Oldham Civic Centre starting in the presence of Oldham Mayor Councillor John Hudson.

There are also plans to use the instruments in a ceremony for a First World War memorial service at Oldham Parish Church later this year. Wednesday’s Civic Centre unveiling will follow the association’s regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, April 8, at the Three Cs Club on Henshaw Street, Oldham, starting at 8pm.

Past and present armed forces personnel are welcome at meetings. For details see its website www.rtraoldham.com