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The full schedule of events commemorating 100 years since the start of the Battle of The Somme on 1st July 1916 has been published. Highlights include a Act of Remembrance on Friday 1st July, a concert by the Leyland Band on Saturday 2nd July, and a major family event as Astley Park on Sunday 3rd July entitled ‘Pals in the Park, Full details are available on our ‘Somme 100‘ page.
We are pleased to announce that the Chorley Remembers Experience will re-open on Friday 1st of July as part of our Somme 100 events with a brand new ‘WW1 Somme experience’. Keep checking the website and our social media channels for further updates. Please note that our popular exhibition in the Coach House next to Astley Hall is currently closed and will re-open in February 2016. Details on when it will re-open will be posted on this site and on social media in the next few weeks.
The Chorley Pals were remembered this morning at 7.30 am with a simple act of remembrance at their memorial in Chorley. It was attended by 25 people, including six Chorley Councillors, several descendants of Chorley Pals, Trustees of the Chorley Pals Memorial charity, representatives of the Chorley in The Great War group and Chorley & District Ex-Services Association. The Chorley Pals suffered 34 killed or died of wounds soon after, with another 57 being wounded in the attack on the 1st July 1916. Commenting on the turnout, Chorley Pals Memorial Secretary & Co-Founder Steve Williams said: “This is the sixth time we have had an act for remembrance at the memorial on the 1st July. No doubt there will be many more people here next year at the 100th anniversary of when the Pals went over the top on the Somme.” The town’s MP and Chairman & Co-Founder of the Chorley Pals Memorial Trust Lindsay Hoyle said: “It is right that we remember the sacrifice of the Chorley Pals on this day, along with many others from the Borough who fought on the Somme 99 years ago.”  The Chorley Pals Memorial on 1st July 2015  Ceremony held on 1st July 2015  A wreath was laid at the memorial We have been sent a photograph of two Chorley Pals in 1912, two years before they joined up in September 1914. On the left is Cpl. 15956 William Clarkson and on the right is Pte. 15641 William Bolton. Both were neighbours, living on the same road in the town. Whilst they joined up together and trained together, sadly they died together. Both were killed on the morning of the 1st July 1916 attacking German positions at Serre on the Somme in northern France. Cpl. Clarkson is buried at Euston Road Cemetery behind the lines near Serre, whilst Pte. Bolton is buried in Queen’s Cemetery facing Serre village in what was No Man’s Land.
Close to 100 years on from when the Chorley Pals Company (part of the wider known ‘Accrington Pals’ Battalion) went off to fight in World War One, a photograph of the men has come to light as they are about to board their train at Chorley Station on the 23rd February 1915. BBC North West Tonight covered the story, including interviewing the daughter of one of the men in the photograph, Pte Thomas Leach.
Video © 2015 BBC, used with permission. A simple poppy cross with the Chorley Remembers badge was placed at The Cenotaph on Whitehall in London on Tuesday 10th March 2015 by Chorley Pals Memorial Secretary Steve Williams. He was in the capital for a meeting with Lindsay Hoyle, the MP for Chorley, who is also Chairman of the Chorley Pals Memorial Trust. The MP had hoped to join Steve at the Cenotaph but was unable to do so due to his Parliamentary duties that afternoon; Lindsay is also Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons. Steve also placed a copy of the book about the Chorley Pals for the photograph.
On Tuesday 23rd February 1915, the Chorley Pals paraded in the Drill Hall on Devonshire Road at around 11.00am for a private civic send off. At the ceremony, an Old English Sheepdog was presented to the Pals as a mascot by local businessman Mr R.E. Stanton. Major Milton immediately named it ‘Ned’ after its benefactor, and promised (on behalf of the Company) to be “kind to the pet”; he then charged Lt Rigby with looking after the new member of the Chorley Company. Major Milton (a local Solicitor and member of Chorley Town Council) then called for ‘three cheers’ for the Mayor and Corporation of Chorley. At 11.20am, with Ned and Lt Rigby in the lead, the Chorley Pals set off for the railway station to the music of the North Lancs. (Chorley) Band. With a thick covering of snow on the ground, they set off via Hamilton Road to Pall Mall, turning on to Market Street and then into Chapel Street up to the station. Despite the cold weather, crowds lined both sides of the route. At the station, another large crowd (including the Mayor and local children excused school) watched as the soldiers waited on the platform and listened to the men singing songs. Their train to Caernarvon arrived at 11.50am, and five minutes later, to cheering from the crowd and the strains of Auld Lang Syne, the Chorley Pals left the town to go to war - and into history, being part of the well known ‘Accrington Pals’ battalion. Of the original 221 ‘Pals’ who enlisted in Chorley between September 1914 and June 1915, 46 died whilst serving in the Company during the war, 12 died serving in other Battalions or Regiments, whilst two died shortly after the war either from sickness or their wounds. Of those 175 Chorley men who were in the front line trenches at Serre on the morning of the 1st July 1916, 34 were killed or died of their wounds, whilst a further 59 were wounded. Many who survived bore the physical and mental scars of war for the rest of their lives.
 The Chorley Pals march to the station, 23rd February 1915  Lt Rigby & Ned, 23 February 1915  The Chorley Pals arrive at the railway station, 23 Feb 1915
The Chorley Pals were remembered 100 years on from when they left the town to go to war. A group of 30 people retraced the steps of the Chorley Pals from the Drill Hall to Chorley railway station. At the station, the Mayor and Chorley Pals historian John Garwood laid poppy crosses. Thanks to all those who joined us on the walk on Monday 23rd February. Special thanks to the Mayor of Chorley Cllr Roy Lees, the Mayoress Margaret Lees (grand-daughter of a Chorley Pal), Cllr Ralph Snape MBE, Cllr Joyce Snape, Chorley Pals Memorial Trustees - Steve Williams, John Garwood and Stuart Clewlow, members of 64 Squadron 3 Med Rgt RAMC, members of the public and Chorley Police. Back in 2010, the town’s MP Lindsay Hoyle led a similar walk to launch the Chorley Pals Memorial Trust and appeal. Sadly he could not join the walk in 2015 due to his parliamentary commitments.
 The group in the Drill Hall on Devonshire Road preparing to depart  The precession walking up Chapel Street  The procession arrives at Chorley Railway Station  The Mayor of Chorley Cllr Roy Lees leaves a poppy cross outside the station  A similar procession took place in 2007 The Chorley Pals are are the main story in this week’s Chorley Guardian.
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