Photo postscript

Mr. Will Marshall, ex-Lance Corporal, ‘Z’ (Burnley) Company, now (1987) lives quietly in Burnley. Still quite active, he likes to play the odd game of bowls in the nearby park. Mr. Marshall’s recorded voice, describing his experiences on 1st July, 1916, is a feature of a reconstructed section of World War One trench and dug-out on permanent display in the Lancashire County and Regimental Museum, Stanley Street, Preston.

Pte. Will Marshall, ‘Z’ (Burnley) Company, poses proudly for this studio portrait in May 1915.

Mr. Ralph Thornley of Church, visits the grave of his uncle, Corporal Ralph Thornley at Euston Road Cemetery Colincamps. His uncle was killed in action, 1st July, 1916.

Pte. George Pollard, age sixteen years, five months in a studio photograph taken for Christmas 1914.

In 1985 George returned to the Somme battlefield for the first time since July 1916. He served in the Amiens area in 1917/18 in the R.F.C./R.A.F. acting for a time as armourer to Major Bill McCudden V.C. In Euston Road Cemetery, Colincamps, George pauses for a few moments before the grave of Corporal Sam Smith, his section corporal from September 1914 to July 1916. He was killed in action on 1st July, 1916.

James Snailham, in his home in Yorkshire with his wife and the author in 1985.

Three ex-Pals meet in 1985. Many reminiscences were exchanged in the visit of Stanley Bewsher (centre) to the home in Accrington of Harry Kay (left). Although George Pollard (right) was a close friend of Harry Kay’s and saw him frequently, they met Stanley for the first time.

Each year on the Sunday nearest July 1st, the Queen’s Lancashire Regiment commemorates Somme Sunday at Blackburn Cathedral. In 1985 Russell Bradshaw (left) travelled from his home on the south coast to attend and to meet, for the first time, George Pollard (third left). The author and his wife, Ruth, accompanied them at the service.