Wilmslow has been chosen to hold ceremony of commemoration to mark the centenary of the start of the Third Battle of Ypres – more widely known as Passchendaele.
The Royal British Legion, other veterans groups, members of the public and dignitaries including the Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire and Bishop of Stockport, will gather for a poignant ceremony and wreath laying at Wilmslow War Memorial, on Mill Street, at 2pm on Monday July 31st.
Mayor of Cheshire East Councillor Arthur Moran will lead the tributes to the fallen on behalf of Cheshire East Council.
The First World War battle in Flanders was notorious for its terrible casualties and appallingly-lethal mud. Servicemen from across Cheshire were among the combatants and casualties.
The Cheshire Regiment alone lost 885 men in total during the battle, with 124 deaths on the first day. Of the 885, the youngest was 17 and the oldest 44.
Khumi Burton, on behalf of the Royal British Legion Wilmslow, said "For a small town like Wilmslow there were 30 casualties who came from here which is quite incredible."
The Third Battle of Ypres, which began on July 31st, 1917, was supposed to see the Allies break-out to the Belgian coast to destroy German U-boat bases.
More than 4.5 million shells were fired in the two-week bombardment before the launch of the assault. But the attack soon floundered amid record heavy rains and unprecedented waterlogged mud that drowned horses, men and machines alike.
Passchendaele was the name of the totally destroyed village the Allies captured before the attack was called to an end on November 6th, 1917.
The battle was one of the bloodiest of the war. In total, more than 325,000 Allied soldiers and more than 260,000 German soldiers were killed or wounded.
Councillor Rachel Bailey, Leader of Cheshire East Council, said: "There were many families in Cheshire who suffered the loss of a loved one during this appallingly difficult and brutal battle. So it is only right that now, 100 years on, we remember them and pay tribute to their great sacrifice.
"It is tremendously important that today's generation, thankfully largely untouched by conflict, continues to remember and honour the sacrifice made during the First World War. We will remember them."
The ceremony will be attended by Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire David Briggs, the Bishop of Stockport the Rt Rev Libby Lane and representatives of the Royal British Legion, Cheshire East Council, Wilmslow Town Council and other local community groups.
The Mayor of Cheshire East Council will welcome everyone to the service. The Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire will then speak about the impact of Passchendaele on Cheshire, Tatton MP Esther McVey will reflect on the impact of Passchendaele on Wilmslow.
After which there will be a short service of remembrance led by Revd Libby Lane, the Bishop of Stockport.
Ian Mac, actor and artistic director of the Jude Theatre Company, will perform a short monologue about life in the trenches at the ceremony. The singer Anna Meadmore will also perform the famous 1914 Ivor Novello song 'Keep the Home Fires Burning'.
A programme will be available on the day for everyone to keep.
Khumi added "Please come along with your family and friends, children and grandchildren."
All those in attendance will be invited to lay a flower to remember those named on the memorial. Tea and cake served will be served at Wilmslow British Legion after the service.
The commemorative event is part of the council's 'Cheshire East Reflects' four-year programme of remembrance of the sacrifice by the people of Cheshire East during the First World War.
Cheshire East will be marking a number of key anniversaries in the period up to November 11th, 2018, when the centenary of the signing of the Armistice will be commemorated.
