Darwen's World War One memorial set for unveiling parade

The ten specially-made black granite plaques tell the real life and death stories of some of the men and women from Darwen who served their country during the 1914/1918 conflict.

They are mounted on a wall in the town's cemetery designed to resemble the inner face of a typical trench from the war.

The memorial will be unveiled by the Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire Lord Shuttleworth at 3pm on Sunday July 1, the 102nd anniversary of the first day of the bloody Battle Of the Somme in which many of the 1,300 Darreners lost their lives.

John East, chairman of the Friends of Darwen Cemetery which organised and designed the memorial, said: "This unique Memorial is perhaps the only new WW1 Memorial in the Blackburn with Darwen area, if not Lancashire, that depicts the actual impact of the loss of life.

"The unveiling appropriately coincides with the anniversary of the first day of the Battle of the Somme.

"We want it to be a fitting tribute to the 1,300 fatal casualties from Darwen of which more than 70 are buried in Commonwealth War Graves in Darwen Western Cemetery. "

The president of the friends group, Darwen-born retired Colonel Steve Davies who formerly commanded the First Battalion of The Queens Lancashire Regiment, said: “I am very proud to have played a part in organising this fitting tribute by the Friends of Darwen Cemetery and would wish to recognise the many offers, donations and support we have received.

"It has been a team effort to reach this point, and I am proud of the way in which the trustees of our organisation have collectively delivered this project alongside many other partners, including many Darwen schoolchildren.

"As an army veteran and proud Darrener this memorial does us proud in remembering the large sacrifice made by the people of Darwen more than 100 years ago.”

There will be a linked exhibition at the Darwen Heritage Centre to complement the new memorial.