YOUR Looking Back column recently reported that October 26 was the 100th Anniversary of the 2nd 5th Battalion of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment entering the 2nd Battle of Passchendaele in 1917.

The 2nd 5th Battalion consisted largely of men from Little Bolton and the War Memorial in the Grounds of St George’s Church, the Parish Church of Little Bolton, was erected in their honour in 1923.

Each year on Remembrance Sunday, the Bolton United Services Veterans hold a short service and lay a wreath at the memorial as they parade to the service on the Town Hall Square.

The battle flag, the Colours of the 2nd 5th Loyals which was actually carried into battle at Passchendaele in 1917, is now displayed in Bolton Parish Church where it was laid up along with a record of the men who gave their lives at Passchendaele having originally been in St George’s Church until the Church was closed in 1975.

Incidentally, the memorial was erected even before the war memorial in Victoria Square.

John Walsh

President, Bolton United Services Veterans Association

Churchwarden

Bolton Parish Church