On Sunday, 1st July, in glorious sunshine, the Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire, The Lord Shuttleworth, dedicated our new World War One monument. The Cemetery was looking at its best after hours of hard work spent sprucing up the paths and flower beds by our dedicated team of volunteers.
Chairman John East opened the proceedings. He pointed out that it was Somme Day, and that at the battle of the Somme on this day in 1916,
Lt Ashton was killed in the first minutes of the offensive.
Lt Ashton is of course commemorated on the Ashton memorial.
Tony Foster told the story of Private Squire Haworth, who saw action at the second battle of Ypres, but who was discharged when found to be suffering from diabetes. He died from a diabetic coma back in Darwen. Tony hopes that he will be eligible for a Commonwealth War Grave.
Our President, Colonel Steve Davies used his speech to thank the many individuals who had made important contributions which enabled the wall to be built. He then invited the Lord Lieutenant to formally dedicate the monument.
After the dedication and the unveiling, the Lord Lieutenant laid a wreath to the fallen.
The Reverend Terry Young then blessed the wall and prayed for the Armed Forces both now and in the past. We then sang the hymn, “Oh valiant hearts” ably led by the Walk This Way choir and accompanied by the Balderstones Brass Band.
(Photo by Mavis Smith)
This was followed by the Last Post, the Two Minutes Silence and the Reveille.
(Photo by Mavis Smith)
Col. Davies declared that this was the last official duty of John East as Chairman of the Friends and asked for a rousing round of applause for the retiring Chairman.
John East closed the proceedings by announcing that refreshments would be served in the Rose Garden in Whitehall Park.
Unless already advised all the Photographs have been taken
by Roy Cox and Alan Walton
FODC July 2018
The BBC attend our World War One Memorial Unveiling Ceremony
Our opening ceremony was filmed for BBC North West Tonight’s Local News Program and the reporter was Naomi Cornwell
(Our President Col Steve Davies interviewed)
(Tony Foster interviewed)
The opening ceremony appeared on BBC North West Tonight later the same day on both the evening and late bulletins
(Richard Westhead interviewed)
(A close up on the Memorial Plaques)
We are looking forward to putting the clip on the website Soon.
Thank you to the BBC for attending our ceremony.
FODC July 2018
If you missed our Ceremony and would like to Purchase our 60 page Book that Accompany the Ceremony
To accompany the unveiling of our World War One Memorial Wall, we have produced a 60-page Book.This is a comprehensive book and goes into detail on ALL the World War One causalities buried in the Western Cemetery, some with photographs.
It also gives an account of the history of the Friends of Darwen Cemetery group, a history of the Cemetery and an account of the ideas behind commemorating the causalities buried in the cemetery with the Memorial Wall.
(some pages from our 60 page Book)
The Book is priced at £5.00
You can pick up a copy from Darwen Heritage Centre, Holker House, Railway Road, Darwen BB3 2RJ
We can also post a copy to you,
UK postage + £2.50
European Postage + £5.50
Rest of the World Postage + £8.00
If you wish to pay by cheque please make the cheque payable to
The Friends of Darwen Cemetery
And post it to:-
The Friends of Darwen Cemetery
C/O Unit 2A, Hall Moss Business Park,
Bolton Road, Bull Hill,
Darwen BB3 2TT
FODC JULY 2020