News
The WW1 Group Battlefield tour spent the week bringing together the service of Bradford men in four of our Bradford battalions: 16th and 18th Pals and two battalions of Territorials from Belle Vue barracks. They had been actually fighting within a few miles of each other and each story was told from their respective from lines.
The Group photo (top left) was taken at the entrance of Hebuterne Cemetery on the Somme. One of the members stood at the grave of Frank Selby (her Great uncle) and gave an account of the family he left behind and also read tributes which appeared in his local newspapers.
The Group visited the Fromelles visitor centre where the visited the memorial to Rugby players from 9 international teams.
The WW1 Bradford group is having their annual guided Battlefield Tour to France 1st – 6th June 2025. The guides have a wide range of knowledge and are willing to answer any questions.
This year’s itinerary includes visiting sites on the Somme connected with the Bradford Pals, various visitor centres and the route that a Canadian took from Arras to Hill 70 that he described in a letter to his wife. Visits to cemeteries are welcome and will be accommodated if they are within striking distance.
The WW1 Bradford group welcome expressions of interest.
Contact: john_restorick@hotmail . com or nhooper1956@googlemail.com
WW1 Group provide help to Hanson School with its WW1 memorial display.
When Brian Russell, of Hanson School, approached the WW1 Group for assistance in creating a WW1 Memorial display for its school Museum it was gladly provided. Yes ! the school has its own Museum which provides brilliant visual displays on several topics. A hidden first for Bradford.
Trish, Nic and Ray provided much assistance over the school’s summer holidays and now the display is ready for the new school year.
Brian published a thank you to all those who assisted him in creating the display in the Telegraph and Argus on 18 Sep 2024 and also onto the school’s website “https://hanson.org.uk/news/the-museum-hanson-update/”. The website is well worth a visit.
It should be mentioned that all the physical components of the Museum’s displays were designed, materials sourced and then handcrafted by Brian himself. His work deserves the highest credit possible.
Once again this year, members of the World War 1 Group shared the French commemoration of the Battle of Hebuterne-Serre at the invitation of the local mayors. Despite poor weather, larger numbers than usual were present and, with a dozen standard bearers from junior branches of remembrance organisations, the official parade was much longer and even more colourful.
The ceremony began at Serre Road No1 Cemetery with the exhortation and placing of a wreath on behalf of the WW1 Group. Everyone then paraded to the French Memorial Chapel on Serre Road where wreaths were laid at the Pals Memorial Stone by the mayor of Hebuterne and on behalf of the Lord Mayor of Bradford. The final part of the ceremony was held at the French Memorial where wreaths were placed by veterans of the French Regiments commemorated there.