County to honour Somme sacrifice

A special remembrance service will mark the 110th anniversary of one of the darkest days in British military history.

Northumberland County Council and Northumbria Veterans Network will host a service at County Hall in Morpeth on July 1, bringing together members of the Northumberland Fusiliers, veterans and civic dignitaries.

The service commemorates the first day of the Battle of the Somme on July 1, 1916, when British and French forces launched their offensive in northern France. 

More than 57,000 British soldiers became casualties on the opening day, including 19,240 who were killed or subsequently died from their wounds.

The Northumberland Fusiliers, then the second largest infantry regiment in the British Army, suffered the highest number of casualties of any regiment during the opening day of the battle.

The ceremony will include The Last Post, a period of reflection, poetry readings and the laying of wreaths in memory of those who lost their lives.

Alongside the service, Northumberland County Council is working with Northumberland Archives to highlight the personal stories behind the conflict. 

A new exhibition at County Hall, a dedicated website and a touring library display will explore the experiences of those affected by the Somme.

Among those featured is captain John Evelyn Carr, a Northumberland County councillor who served between 1913 and 1916. 

His wartime diary describes the devastating losses suffered by his battalion on the opening day of the battle, offering a powerful first-hand insight into the human cost of the Somme.

On July 1, 1916, he wrote: “A lovely summer day and one I shall never forget for many things. 

“One principal thing was that my battalion (as good as any in the British Army) was almost entirely demolished, only two officers that were with it got back unwounded. 

“Captain Hudson and Lt Hayes, all the rest were either killed or wounded. 

“The colonel was badly hit in both lungs, the adjutant was wounded and many of my dear pals were killed.” 

Council leader Glen Sanderson added: “July 1st 1916 was a day of huge sacrifice for many nations, and a day that has special resonance for this county. 

“The Northumberland Fusiliers suffered huge casualties that day, and that is something that has never been forgotten – and must never be in the future. 

“The stories and memories we have found from that day show us a snapshot of the bravery and stoicism of thousands of young men, and we look forward to paying tribute to all those who fought for our freedom.” 

Councillor Lyle Darwin, Northumberland County Council’s armed forces champion, added: “A generation of young men stepped out of their trenches 110 years ago and many didn’t come home. 

"We’re honoured that Northumbria Veterans Network, together with the County Council, can join together to pay our respects to those who fought, and to those who lost their lives.” 

Caroline Richardson, chair of Northumbria Veterans Network, added: “The Somme was not just a battlefield; it was a place where thousands of dreams fell silent, and a generation was forever changed. 

“Courage walked hand in hand with sacrifice, and countless young lives were lost to the horrors of war. 

“Every cross that stands in the cemetery on the Somme tells a story of a father, a son, a brother, a friend and reminds us that behind every number is a name, behind every name is a life, and behind every life is a family left to grieve. 

“We should never forget those that died or those that survived to tell their story and deal with the memories of friends and comrades who never came home.” 

The ceremony will be held outside County Hall in Morpeth from 9am to 9.40am on Wednesday, July 1st. 

More details about the Battle of the Somme and Northumberland Archives is available at www.greatnorthumberland.co.uk/somme.  

Northumberland Archives would love to receive more records relating to the county’s involvement in the Battle of the Somme. For more details or to deposit a record, click here.

Want your business, product or service to be seen regionally and nationally? Bdaily helps you get your story in front of the right audience, every day. Find out how Bdaily can help →

Join more than 55,000 subscribers by signing up to our daily bulletin each morning here.