The Battle of the Somme commemoration Southport 2016

This morning we assembled at the Lord Street war memorial to remember the men who died at the Battle of the Somme. Afterwards I went the British Legion Byng House to hear a talk about the battle . I have produced below the script I had . The poem was written by Mike Morris to whom I wish to extend my thanks. Mike, a man from Netherton , wrote the poem to commemorate the men who died from his area on the first day of the battle. Mike helped me adapt the poem so it was relevant to Southport. I greatly appreciate the work Mike put in at short notice researching the necessary amendments.

We come today to remember the men who died at the battles of the Somme; especially the men of Southport and Formby.

I have a poem to read:

The first July dawn in Picardy 1916.

A short march from Maricourt chateau.

At last the incessant, pounding guns fall silent.

A skylark defies the dying din, soars and sings its joyous notes above.

Below, hearts pound in youthful chests.

Despite the warm red rum coursing through veins.

Four thousand Liverpool Kingsmen wait with Pals from Manchester;

Regulars from Yorkshire, Bedfordshire, Wiltshire and Royal Scots Fusiliers.

These older heads will guide the young ‘uns through!

(Indignant, angry French comrades on their right-this is far from new to them!)

Steel bayonets click on rifle barrels,

Flashing light on pale young faces, mouths as dry as dust.

Shrill whistles call them to duty.

Duty bravely done-objectives dearly gained.

As lark gives way to nightingale, Montaubon is wrestled from the foe!

200 Liverpool Pals will never see another dawn.

The battles to come will see, many Southport men join the ranks of the fallen,      among them:

Privates Delbanco, Kingston, McDonald, Thomas and Thorp,

Lance Corporal Maybrick and Corporal Ramsbottom .

The wounds of nearly 700 neatly dressed; blood staunched.

But who can staunch a broken mind or replace a missing limb?

The Pals can sleep their fitful sleep.

Less final than nearly 20,000 comrades to the north.

On the first day of 141 days of hell.

Victorious Pals from Lancashire, Liverpool, Cheshire and elsewhere.

Belie the dreadful slaughter of that day

And the final, terrible toll of perhaps 300,000 souls.

“Their name liveth for evermore”. Rest in Peace.

During the service a lone piper played Flowers of the Forest. Below is a recording of Isla St Clair singing that haunting Scottish lament which was originally written for the fallen at the Battle of Flodden in 1513.