Sacrifices of hero Bradford Pals remembered at special memorial service

A SPECIAL memorial service took place today to remember the sacrifices made by the Bradford Pals on the first day of the Battle of the Somme - 108 years ago ago.

The Bradford Pals formed part of the West Yorkshire Regiment, which took part in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on July 1, 1916, during the First World War.

Of the 1,400 Bradford Pals who went over the top at 7.30am on that morning, an estimated 917 became casualties. More than 230 died on the battlefield or of wounds during the following days.

Today's service was held at the Bradford Pals Memorial Stone, in the Memorial Gardens behind Bradford Cenotaph, at 11am.

The Last Post was played and a minute's silence was observed, followed by the Reveille.

Wreaths were laid and prayers were said.

Councillor Beverley Mullaney, Lord Mayor of Bradford, said: "The sacrifices of those young men from Bradford who came together to form the Bradford Pals and who gave so much during the First World War, and particularly the Battle of the Somme, should never be forgotten."