A PLAY commemorating the centenary of the Battle of the Somme is being staged by a group of 15 year old boys who are marking the deaths of many of the young soldiers who died.

The youngsters, all from Horsforth School in Leeds are staging their play at Masham Town Hall on July 15 at 7pm. Many of the Leeds Pals trained at nearby Colsterdale including one of the stars of the play, Horace Iles, the youngest soldier to die at the Somme, he was just 16.

Many youngsters lied about their age to join the army, Horace was just 14 when he enlisted. Student Ethan Wright, 15, who plays another soldier in the play said: "I was honoured to lay a wreath at the Pals memorial in my WW1 uniform to allow people to find out more about the war and especially to think about the young soldiers who were just like us really, but who suffered a terrible fate.

“I hope that lots of people will come to the performance of our play at Masham Town Hall and get to know my character Walter, a friendly and cheeky lad from a century ago but who just like me wanted a bright future."

Tickets for the play are available from Masham Community Office.