Battle of Somme Memorial

On July 1st 2018, the 102nd anniversary of the first day of the Battle of the Somme, the grand unveiling of a unique memorial to the fallen of the First World War took place in Darwen Cemetery. Eight years ago the Friends of Darwen Cemetery began work on an idea to commemorate the lives of men buried in the cemetery, more than 70 men from Darwen and beyond, who died in service during the 1914-1918 war.

The Friends were keen to involve local schools and DACA were on board from the start with Mr Turner and a group of students from DACA undertaking research and contributing ideas for the designs of the memorial and also spending a memorable day at Preston Barracks.

When the plans finally became a reality this year students who worked on the project when they were in Year 9 returned from their university courses to attend the unveiling, in a ceremony led by Councillor John East, Colonel Steve Davies and the Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire, Lord Shuttleworth.