A permanent memorial will be unveiled in Rochdale this summer to honour the service of local men who fought in one of the bloodiest campaigns of the First World War and the sacrifices made by their relatives at home.

Rochdale Borough Council have confirmed that the memorial stone to mark the centenary of the Gallipoli campaign which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of local soldiers will be unveiled in Rochdale Memorial Gardens during a special Gallipoli Commemoration Event on Sunday 28 June.

The event, which will also include a military parade in the town centre will be part of the boroughs national Armed Forces Day celebrations.

Preparations for the afternoon, which will feature the Kings Division Band are well underway, with further details set to be announced in April.

In the meantime the council are asking residents who had relatives who fought in Gallipoli to contact them so they can take part in the parade in their honour.

Families are asked to email armedforces@rochdale.gov.uk

Back on August 1914, 1,000 soldiers from the 6th Battalion of Lancashire Fusiliers gathered in Rochdale before being sent to Egypt and on to the killing fields of Turkey. Few came home alive or unscathed. Those who enlisted were remembered last summer with the recreation of a march made by more than 1,000 soldiers from the 6th Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers.

Councillor Alan McCarthy, Lead Member for the Armed Forces at Rochdale Borough Council, said:

“The Gallipoli Campaign saw considerable losses for Britain and her allies. It is right that we commemorate those local men who fought and died and remember their sacrifices. It is also important to remember the sacrifices of those left at home who kept the home fires burning. I hope as many descendants as possible are able to attend to remember their loved ones, along with members of the public who also want to join with us as we pay our respects.”

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