A Report of the Town Clerk to
A Meeting of the Events Committee
Malvern Town Council
To be held on Tuesday 10 May 2016
In the Council Chamber, Town Council Offices, Belle Vue Terrace, Malvern, at 4.00pm
Somme Centenary Vigil 2016
1.0. Purpose of Report 1.1. For noting and decision. 2.0. Recommendations
2.1. The Committee is recommended to agree to the organisation of a Vigil at Malvern’s War Memorial in the Library Grounds to mark this year’s Somme Centenary. 3.0. Background
3.1. At 0728 on Friday July 1 1916, following prolonged artillery bombardment, whistles blew to send men ‘over the top’ and into the Battle of the Somme, which was fought until 18 November, at such terrible cost that it has come to symbolise the tragic futility of the First World War. Its first day of conflict remains the bloodiest day in the history of the British army, with nearly 60,000 casualties, of which almost 20,000 were killed. The majority of units involved were the ‘Pals battalions’ that formed Lord Kitchener’s ‘volunteer army’; groups of friends, sports club teammates, and work colleagues. Almost every community in the United Kingdom was deeply affected by the loss of men at the Somme.
3.2. The Royal British Legion is asking the country to remember the service and sacrifice of those who fell during the Battle of the Somme by holding commemorative events, and Officers propose that a Centenary Vigil at the War Memorial in Malvern Library Grounds would be an appropriate way of joining this national event.
3.3. Town Council Officers have received a Somme 100 toolkit which contains a wealth of material that would be appropriate for a Centenary event, and have met with members of the Remembrance Committee to discuss the potential format of such an event; particularly how it would differ from Malvern’s Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day observations, and propose the following:
Contact to be made with Malvern Remembers project, to request photographs and biographical information on casualties suffered 1 July to 18 November 1916, where possible, to create information displays in Priory Church and Malvern Library from late June to mid-July. Similar contact to be made with Malvern College and Malvern Quaker meeting House/St John Ambulance to ensure that Old Malvernian and medical casualties are also remembered – many WW1 stretcher bearers and medics were Quakers.
Friday 1 July 2016 – Vigil to be kept 0700 to 0800; Member of Priory Clergy to open service with appropriate prayers and brief explanation of the Battle. Readings from representatives of Malvern’s churches/schools/community organisations – letters (if existing) written before the attack commenced, Worcestershire/Gloucestershire Regimental diaries, poems etc. 0725: Prayers; the Exhortation; the Last Post 0728: Trench whistles to be blown to mark the beginning of a two minutes’ silence 0730: Three-volley salute, Reveille, the Dedication (Kohima Epitaph), Blessing, Further readings as above, to bookend the Act of Remembrance and to include as many groups, organisations, churches and schools as possible. Perhaps a roll of honour to be read out, naming all Malvern’s Somme casualties. Opportunity for individuals to lay crosses, poppies in memory of their own ancestors
3.4. Officers suggest that the focus on individuals would be a poignant and proper way to commemorate this Centenary event.
4.0 Financial Implications
4.1. Staff costs for the proposed event would be covered by the Town Council’s existing overtime budget for 2016/17.
5.0 Legal Implications
5.1. None pertaining to this report.
End.
Linda Blake Author of Report: Town Clerk Eadwine Brown Events Coordinator