A FLAG has been presented to a seaside resort to commemorate the centenary of being bombarded by the German Navy.
Mayor of Whitby, Heather Coughlan, was given the flag carrying the message ‘Never to be forgotten’ from Scarborough Borough Council.
Whitby was shelled by German battle cruisers on December 16, 1914, in an attack which aimed to draw out sections of the British fleet.
The shelling killed seven people in the town, destroyed or damaged 30 homes and a coastguard station, while attacks on Hartlepool and Scarborough the same day killed 130 others.
Cllr Coughlan said the flag would be flown with pride at the offices of Whitby Town Council during the coming months.
Scarborough Borough Mayor, Councillor Pat Marsburg, added: “I very much hope that the flag will serve as a poignant reminder to the people of Whitby of the local people who lost their lives in the First World War at home and on the battlefields.
“We should never forget the sacrifice they made for our lives today.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here