Respects to the fallen of The Somme were paid yesterday at St. James. Image kindly supplied by David Evans.

Sadly I was at work and couldn’t make the Brownhills Centenary Remembrance Service for the Battle of the Somme yesterday (Friday, 1st July 2016) – but reader and top friend of the blog David Evans did, and he was kind enough to provide the following emotive account and photos.

So much has been written and said about this awful battle, part of an equally horrific an senseless war, and I can’t add to what has already been said, except to thank the British Legion, Martin Littler and all those who organised this important community event.

David Evans wrote:

Hi Bob

The joyful sounds of the nearby schoolchildren at playtime had ceased and an unusual stillness crept silently over this part of Brownhills; an anticipation, perhaps a memory of an awful, protracted event that began a hundred years ago.

From the church tower sounded the plaintive recorded call of a bugler…. a mournful, soul-destroying bugle call that reached out over the scene.

A small group of people gathered.

A simple yet respectful ceremony took place and honour was paid to the enduring memory of that dreadful part of history, and to the sacrifice of thousands of fallen combattants.

We will remember.

David

Thanks to all who attended and paid their respects. You did us all proud.

If you have anything you’d like to say, comment here or mail me – BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Thanks!