Thursday 30 June 2016

Somme 100 Commemorations in Barnsley July to November 2016

The Battle of the Somme lasted from 1 July 1916 to 18 November 1916. It is particularly poignant for Barnsley because it marked the first battle for many of our volunteer soldiers, and for many it was also their last.  

On 1 July 1916 297 Barnsley men lost their lives and hundreds more were wounded or reported missing.  The confusion was such that the date of death of many of the men eventually recorded as killed in the first few days of the battle cannot be taken as certain.  The total number of Barnsley men killed in the whole of July 1916 is 494.  This is many, many more men than were killed at any other time during the war. We can scarcely imagine the effect this must have had on the towns and villages in our area. Men who had worked together had died together, some families lost more than one member, fathers, sons, brothers, uncles, nephews, cousins - communities were devastated.

Deaths by month for Barnsley Men During the First World War
The total of Barnsley losses during the Battle of the Somme was 809 men (at our present count) and these included men from a whole range of regimentsNot just the Barnsley Pals (13th & 14th Battalions of the York and Lancaster Regiment) and other Yorkshire Regiments but also Barnsley men serving in Lancashire Regiments, London Regiments, Scottish Regiments, the Royal Medical Corps and many, many more. A number of Barnsley men who had emigrated to Canada and Australia and who were fighting in those countries' Forces fell during the Battle

For more information please contact us bwmp2015@gmail.com or via Facebook or Twitter.

We published a partial list of the events we knew were taking place in Barnsley in our June newsletter, needless to say in the past week or so more have come to light. You can follow us on Facebook or Twitter where we will post updates when we receive them.

On this page we will list any and all events, displays, commemorations, services, in fact any show of respect and commemoration for our Barnsley men during this, the 100th anniversary of their service at Battle of the Somme.

Commemorative Events

Date & Time
 Event
Organising Body
Venue
Friday 1 July  6.30am
Vigil, Whistle Blowing, Wreath Laying
Barnsley War Memorials Project
Barnsley War Memorial
Friday 1 July 7.30am
Period of Reflection 

Dodworth War Memorial
Friday 1 July 7.30am
Remembrance Service
Barnsley Pals Scooter Club
Silverwood Scout Camp

Friday 1 July 7.30am
Tolling of Single Bell
Across West Yorkshire Diocese
Darton Church, St Edward's Church, Kingstone
Friday 1 July 10am
Service & Reading of Names

Penistone War Memorial
Friday 1 July 10am to 2.30pm
Open Day
Royston History Group
Royston Library
Friday 1 July 10am to 12 noon
Exhibition & Coffee Morning
Wombwell Heritage Group
Wombwell Library
Friday 1 July 11am
Service
Dodworth War Memorial Group & Church Council
Dodworth War Memorial
Friday 1 July 11am
Lighting of Candle & Prayers

Elsecar Holy Trinity Church
Friday 1 July 12.45pm
Commemoration & Public Art Launch
Experience Barnsley
Barnsley War Memorial
Friday 1 July 1.30pm
Service & Displays

Silverwood Scout Camp
Friday 1 July 4pm
Battle of Somme Memorial

Amphitheatre, Kendray
Friday 1 July 6pm
Commemoration
Friends of Wombwell Cemetery & British Legion
Wombwell Cemetery
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Thursday 7 July 10.30am
Remembrance Service 
Thurnscoe History Group
Thurnscoe Park
Monday 11 July 10.15am
Dedication of Somme Memorial Garden
Cudworth Environment Group
Cudworth Park


Exhibitions and Displays 

Dates
 Event
Organising Body
Venue
1st to 29th July
Heroes of the Somme Exhibition
Thurnscoe Local History Group
Thurnscoe Library
From 1 July 
all summer
Exhibition of Photographs & Memorabilia
Wombwell Heritage Group
Wombwell Library
24th August to 20 November
Stories of the Somme Exhibition
Experience Barnsley
Barnsley Town Hall
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Please help us keep this list up to date and inclusive.  
Contact us on bwmp2015@gmail.com with any updates.