Marchpast......

You may have noticed I didn't visit you over the weekend, I was really busy on Saturday looking after the grandchildren and then on Sunday MWM and I decided to have a ride on the East Lancs Railway to Bury for lunch.   As we came out of the station we were surprised to see lots of police about and lots of people lining the roads nearby.    We went into a nearby hostelry for lunch and asked the people who were in there what was going on, to be told there was going to be a marchpast for Gallipoli Sunday, of course it was 25th April, what a bonus.



Wellington (Bury) Barracks, home of the Lancashire Fusiliers is nearby, which is where the forces, past and present, were congregating ready for the marchpast.  At the main landings at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915, six Victoria Crosses were awarded to 1st Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers. This is sometimes referred to as 'the six VCs before breakfast'.

The landing in Gallipoli (at the infamous Helles landing) involved a brigade from the 42nd (East Lancashire) Division that had four territorial battalions from the regiment. The landings also involved the 1st Battalion.

A service of commemoration has been held in the regimental town, Bury in Lancashire every Gallipoli Sunday, the nearest Sunday to 25 April, since 1916. It has recently been decided that this commemoration will continue despite the death of the last survivor of the Lancashire Fusiliers who was present at Gallipoli. The Lancashire Fusiliers are now part of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, consequently the cap Hackles have changed colour from yellow to red and white.

Thankfully I had put the camera in my handbag and MWM was able to get some photographs, whilst I applauded the veterans, serving personnel and cadets that were marching.     I thought you may like  to see them.

God Bless them.