Battle of Passchendaele commemoration held at Queens Park

Saturday, October 26, marked the 107th anniversary of the start of the second battle of Passchendaele, in which 120 soldiers of the “Bolton Rifles” were killed.

They and the 275,000 other British casualties were remembered with a ceremony including wreath laying, prayers and the last chorus at the war memorial at Queens Park.

Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Andy Morgan, said: “It’s just as relevant now as it was 107 years ago, its really important that we remember the lessons of the past and that we’re here now today because these guys and girls gave their lives.”

He added: “They went there as part of a local regiment, they fought together and some of them didn’t come back.”

The event was held at Queens Park (Image: Phil Taylor) The monument at Queens Park commemorates more than 1,000 soldiers from Bolton who died over the course of the First World War.

Along with the 275,000 British soldiers who died at Passchendaele, there were 260,000 German casualties and 15,000 Canadians killed.

Flags were unfurled and wreaths laid (Image: Phil Taylor)

On Saturday Queens Park hosted a service led by the Reverend Michael Taylor in memory of the 5th Battalion of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, also known as the Bolton Rifles.

The event had been organised by Bolton United Services Veterans Association and included a range of dignitaries and guests from all over the borough.

The service was led by the Reverend Michael Taylor (Image: Phil Taylor)

Along with the Mayor, these included Bolton West MP Phil Brickell, various councillors and representatives of the armed forces. 

ALSO READ: Honouring Bolton's war heroes who fought in the Battle of Passchendaele

ALSO READ: Memorial to only Bolton woman to die serving in First World War unveiled

ALSO READ: Appeal to solve mystery of Bolton war medal found in a tool box - 220 miles away

Honorary President Cllr John Walsh, who conducted much of the event, said the commemoration and others like it would keep the memory of the fallen alive for years to come.

Prayers were said in memory of the fallen (Image: Phil Taylor)

Cllr Walsh said: “It’s hugely important, the 5th Battalion has real link to Bolton, these are men from the town who joined up together and many of them lost their lives in the First World War and at the Battle of Passchendaele together.

“What always strikes me at Remembrance time is that when school take part, children want to get involved, they want to help with making poppy displays, so it really is something that lives on.”

Further commemoration events will be taking place in the borough over the coming weeks.