WAR heroes are set to be remembered at a series of events to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.

The Friends of the Green Howards Museum, in Richmond, and the Yorkshire Regiment, which is made of up regiments including the Green Howards, are hosting a service in honour of Victoria Cross recipient, Second Lieutenant Donald Simpson Bell.

2Lt Bell, from Harrogate, was the only English professional footballer to be awarded a VC, and the main event will be a service at his grave, known as Bell’s Redoubt, near the Contalmaison War Memorial, France, on Saturday, September 10.

This will be followed by the laying of wreaths at the Contalmaison War Memorial, before an England vs France football match to mark 2Lt Bell’s achievement.

The English team will be made up of members of Bradford Park Avenue FC, 2Lt Bell’s club at the time of the war, and The Yorkshire Regiment; who will play against local side Albert.

On Sunday morning further short ceremonies will be held to commemorate other regimental VC recipients at the Somme - Major Stuart Loudoun-Shand VC, Private William Short VC and Captain Archie White VC MC who survived the battle.

Attending throughout this weekend will be soldiers from 1st Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, The Band of The Yorkshire Regiment, members of the Green Howards Association, and members of the Bell and Loudon-Shand families.

Steve Erskine, assistant curator at the Green Howards Museum said the commemoration at Bell’s Redoubt is an annual event but this year would be extra special.

“Bell’s Redoubt is on the site of the trench that he attacked, and where he was killed. At the museum we have a Somme exhibition which open in July and will run until November, and it includes personal affects that belonged to Bell including his helmet and binoculars.

“We also have the stories of other local VC winners, including Eston steelworker William ‘Twiggy’ Short, and of German soldiers, which gives a different perspective.” 2Lt Bell was the first professional footballer to volunteer in August 1914, and on July 5, 1916, he was awarded his VC for his part in capturing an enemy position named Horseshoe Trench.