A number of events are planned to mark the centenary of the First World War. If you are planning an event, please let us know about it so that we can publicise it here.
EVENTS:
Oldham Remembers: Passchendaele Commemorative Weekend
On the 7 and 8 October we will be commemorating The Battle of Passchendaele – one of the bloodiest battles of World War One.
Commemorative Dinner: Battle of Passchendaele
Saturday 7 October
On the Saturday 7 October we will be holding a commemorative dinner from 7pm at the Oldham Event Centre.
Tickets are £25. Tickets include a three course meal, live entertainment, performances and a raffle.
The event, organised by Oldham Council, British legion and Oldham Ex Service Mens Association, will give you the chance to read letters and pay respects to Oldham’s fallen.
Profits from the dinner will be used to purchase Bronze Plaques for soldiers who died but whose names were missed off the original plaques.
For tickets call 0161 770 4621
The menu:
STARTERS
Cream of Vegetable soup
Selection of fresh bread rolls & butter
MAIN COURSE
Breast of chicken with chive mashed potato, roasted root vegetables & a creamy mushroom tarragon sauce (Halal)
or
Portobello mushroom and goats cheese Wellington, chive butter sauce (V)
DESSERTS
Vanilla & mascarpone cheesecake with fruit compote and vanilla cream
Service of Remembrance: Battle of Passchendaele
Sunday 8 October
A service of remembrance will take place at 2pm at Oldham Parish Church. Anyone who wishes to walk to the church with the Mayor of Oldham and the Armed Forces should meet at the Civic Centre (Rochdale Road entrance) at 1.30pm.
Join us in December as we honour Victoria Cross Recipiant, Private Walter Mills.
Service to Remembrance: Walter Mills VC
Monday 11 December
A service will take place at Oldham Parish Church at 11am to honour Victoria Cross recipient Walter Mills. Following the service we will be unveiling a commemorative flagstone for Private Mills in the church grounds.
NEWS:
There was a service of Remembrance at the Kings Baptist Church in Cleethorpes, where the congregation had put together an exhibition of the night o the 1 April. The names of the Oldham soldiers who died were read out, with information given to them from Dorothy Bintley.
There were six people from Oldham there, and there was tea and cake.
One of the members of the congregation, David, went to the church during the night and stood there at the time the bomb dropped. He said it was very atmospheric with the mist rolling in from the sea.
On the Sunday there were three wreath laying ceremonies attended by the Deputy Mayor and Mayoress of Oldham.
The first was the memorial to the 3rd Manchester’s, followed by the second at the CWGC memorial.
The third was at the Memorial Arch on the sea front where there were many plaques for different groups and regiments.
COMMEMORATE VJ (VICTORY OVER JAPAN) DAY, 15 AUGUST – 2 SEPTEMBER
On August 14, 1945, it was announced that Japan had surrendered unconditionally to the Allies, effectively ending World War Two.
Since then, both August 14 and August 15 have been known as “Victory over Japan Day,” or simply “V-J Day.” The term has also been used for September 2, 1945, when Japan’s formal surrender took place aboard the U.S.S. Missouri, anchored in Tokyo Bay.
We’re encouraging everyone to remember VJ Day (Victory in Japan Day) from 15 August to 2 September.
We would like residents and communities to come together and organise afternoon teas, themed events or story swapping sessions, from 15 August to 2 September. These could be held anywhere, in your house, garden or local community centre.
This is part of the ‘Oldham Remembers’ project that Oldham Council are running to show their commitment to commemorating World War One and World War Two.
Residents can advertise their own events and a template for a poster can be found on this website by visiting the link: www.oldhamremembers.org.uk/get-involved/
Oldham Council will assist with advertising the events and all the information will be uploaded to this website.
If you would like to host an event please let us know by emailing oldhamremembers@oldham.gov.uk or by calling 0161 770 3297
A HISTORY TO BE PROUD OF
Oldham Remembers is launching a new project – ‘A History to Be Proud Of’ – and we want residents to be part of it.
We want local people to share stories about how their relatives fought for freedom in the World Wars, even though they didn’t hail from these shores.
Many of you will have ancestors from the West Indies, Africa, Europe, Australia, America and beyond who have told you about their experiences.
The Oldham Remembers team is currently researching and collecting stories but we need help from people across the borough to come forward with their own.
This new project is not just to remember, but to highlight how people from different communities ‘did their bit’.
Once all the stories are collected they will be organized and shared with Oldham.
For more information or if you have a story to share please contact oldhamremembers@oldham.gov.uk or call 0161 770 3297
RESOURCES:
World War 1: Changing Faces of Heroism University of Leeds 3 Week Course
Learn how the war moved everyone away from traditional views of heroism and created new kinds of heroes and heroines.
Did World War 1 make heroism meaningless or was it the conflict that gave it the most meaning?
This course will help you explore, discuss and challenge the ways in which World War 1 heroism has been remembered. Experts will take you through the changing British, French and German views of heroism and discuss important similarities and differences.
Watch a short trailer here:
To find out more about the course visit: www.futurelearn.com/courses/ww1-heroism
EXHIBITIONS:
‘In Memoriam’ – First World War Exhibitions
Visit the Saddleworth Museum for the new display ‘In Memoriam’. The exhibition looks at the men and women of Saddleworth who served during World War One.
The exhibition, located on the first floor of the museum, includes a ‘dugout’, a display case of objects, an ephemera display and a noticeboard with the opportunity for people to remember those relatives who served or were killed.
Saddleworth Museum Saddleworth, High St, Uppermill, Oldham OL3 6HS
For more information call 01457 874093 or visit www.saddleworthmuseum.co.uk