The centenary of the Battle of the Somme has caught the imagination of the British public. In the month of July 2016 alone, this site received 2,228 visitors and 7,664 views of individual posts or pages. The interest in the site is rewarding, as the sharing of research is the real pleasure of the project. Visitors have inspired research quests and contributed some gems of data and images; that hopefully keep the site vibrant and relevant to future years.
There will be twelve posts as a personal reflection on the Centenary year, using a tenuous approach to the Twelve Days of Christmas.
On the 1st Day of July – our family returned to Montauban
We visited the Somme on the 1st July 2016 to commemorate Private 8055 Arthur Bell and the Manchester Pals Centenary of the liberation of Montauban. Five of Arthur’s relatives walked in his footsteps with a group of friends. Passing over the battlefield, we had a toast to the Pals at Triangle Point, followed by a picnic in La Place. We then watched a pipe band and parade pass by with some other First World War enthusiasts. Events on 1st July 1916 and 2016 will not be forgotten. We also remember to Officers and Men of the 17th Battalion Manchester Regiment
Merry Christmas everyone.
17th Battalion Manchester Regiment on the Somme 