2015 marks the Centenary of the ill fated allied invasion of Gallipoli in which almost 600,000 Allies and Turkish soldiers were killed. Included in the British Forces were the men who formed 1/6th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers. These men were drawn mainly from Bury, Heywood, Middleton, Rochdale, Todmorden and what is today Greater Manchester. It is to the memory of the men of both sides and the recognition of their sacrifice this blog and the Reading The Century events have been facilitated by the Rochdale Co-operative Members Volunteer Group.
Local Area Roll of Honour

A Mother's Lament

Left in the wilderness in a foreign land
hearing only voices he does not understand
buried forever on a strangers shore
knowing for certain he’ll be home no more
how can she bear it, he's her beloved son.
Can't sit at his grave and weep,
now his life is done.

Cold comfort, that they’ll meet again,
only when her life’s over,
and her body lays like his,
but hers is this side of Dover.



© Catrina Barrett