Service To Commemorate Battle Of The Somme

Published on: 28 Jun, 2016
Updated on: 29 Jun, 2016

A short commemorative service will be held at St Mary’s Church at Perry Hill, Worplesdon, at 7.30am on Friday morning, July 1.

The time being 100 years since the exact zero hour that troops went ‘over the top’ on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.

Guildford borough councillor Bob McShee (Worplesdon), who is one of those who have organised the service with the church, said: “We will pay tribute to those who lost so much on the Somme, which is recognised as the worst disaster in British military history.

All are welcome to attend the service and light refreshments will be available afterwards.

Also on Friday is a football tournament taking place at the Surrey Sports Park to mark the Somme centenary. Click here for our previous story.

And here for our interview with Col Patrick Crowley, the organiser of the tournament.

The Guildford Dragon NEWS will also be publishing a story that looks at the Battle of the Somme and some of the stories of Guildford men who took part.

Responses to Service To Commemorate Battle Of The Somme

David Pillinger Reply

July 1, 2016 at 2:13 pm

I studied the First World War in detail for O Level and A Level (the rise of nationalism that led to it and the conflict itself) and immersed myself in Biggles books set in Sopwith Camel Squadron 266 of the Royal Flying Corps when I was a kid.

It was a fascinating thing to learn about, but the suffering to people on the front and back home was immeasurable. I am pleased to see that these memories are still being recalled and we must remember that we never must get into situations of this sort ever again on this continent, or beyond.