MORE than 2,000 soldiers have taken part in a special remembrance parade to mark the centenary of the Battle of the Somme.
The parade at the drumhead at Vimy Barracks, Catterick Garrison, on Friday was organised by the 4th Infantry Brigade and the HQ of Catterick Garrison and included an address by Garrison Commander Lieutenant Colonel Mark Steed about the aftermath of the battle.
At 7.30am – the start time of the battle – a whistle was blown to mark the moment the men were sent over the top of the trenches into battle, machine guns were fired and smoke was let off in the background.
A two minute silence followed the last post, and the silence was started and concluded with a single firing of a field artillery gun from 4 Regiment Royal Artillery.
Commander of 4th Infantry Brigade, Brigadier Jez Strickland, told of the aftermath of the Somme, before local dignitaries including Richmond Mayor Cllr Russell Lord, MP Rishi Sunak, Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire Barry Dodd and Brigadier Strickland, laid wreaths at the drumhead, while hundreds of poppies were blown overhead.
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