Yesterday in Southern Cemetery ................ remembering the Somme

Southern Cemetery is in many things to many people.

For many it is a peaceful place to walk quietly amongst the trees and gravestones, watch the seasons change and study the wildlife.

For the family historian it offers the chance to push back the knowledge of their past and for many it is where they come to remember a loved one.

But it is also a place for that bigger collective act of commemorating those who died in the service of their country.

And yesterday was one of those days when we came together to remember the Battle of the Somme and in particular the men who are buried in the cemetery who died of their wounds from that battle.*

They came from Canada, Australian, New Zealand and lie with those from the UK and as a closing tribute to their deaths and the sacrifices made by all those who lived through the Great War I want to finish the events commemorating the Somme with a few more pictures from that day.

It was attended by members of the British Legion, two MPs, three councillors, and young people from local schools as well as  the staff of Southern Cemetery.

And because yesterday was also Canada Day it was fitting that Major David Charron of the Royal Canadian Army had been invited to lay a wreath for those men of the Canadian Expeditionary Force who are buried amongst their comrades from other Commonwealth armies.*

It was and elegant and poignant act of Remembrance made the more powerful by the mix of people who had chosen to attend.

The youngest will have been no more than ten, the eldest well into retirement, along with serving soldiers and ex servicemen and servicewomen as well as politicians and those who maintained the graves.

Location; Southern Cemetery

Pictures; Southern Cemetery, July 1 2016, from the collection of Andrew Simpson

*Remembering them ...... 100 years after the Battle of the Somme part 8 ...... a moving ceremony in Southern Cemetery, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/remembering-them-100-years-after-battle_1.html