THREE North Yorkshire war memorials have received protected status to mark the centenary of the Battle of the Somme.

Grade II listing has been given to a memorial at Breary Banks, near Masham, where Colsterdale Camp was created to train the Leeds Pals, whose battalion saw 15 officers and 233 other ranks killed in the first minutes of the battle.

The Mayor of Harrogate, Councillor Nick Brown, said the Leeds Pals made “the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom”.

He said: “It is important that we remember those who lost their lives, especially within the communities in which they lived.”

Historic England said the Green Howards Regimental Cross in Richmond and the Commondale Shepherd's Memorial, on the North York Moors, to honour the sacrifice of shepherds Robert Leggott, who was killed in the battle after having signed up in 1914 aged 17, and his friend Alfred Cockerill.

Mr Leggott's body was never found.

A North York Moors National Park Authority spokesman said: “The contrast between the horrors that Robert and Alfred experienced on the war torn Somme and the beauty and tranquillity of the North York Moors gives this memorial a particular poignancy."

The Richmond memorial, on Frenchgate, was dedicated five years after Green Howards soldiers fought in the offensivc.

David Evennett, heritage minister, said: "These memorials are a poignant reminder of those who lost their lives in the Battle of the Somme 100 years ago and an important part of our heritage."