Oldham Historical Research Group

'THE GREAT WAR',     'THE WAR TO END WAR',     'WORLD WAR 1'
'What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?
- Only the monstrous anger of the guns.'
                                                                                                  
from 'Anthem for Doomed Youth' by Wilfred Owen

THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
JULY TO NOVEMBER 1916

OLDHAM 'PALS' WAR RECORD
(during their months on the Somme in 1916)
by
Sergeant Harry Bradley, 24th Manchester Regiment, (Comrades)
and published as a series of articles in the 'Oldham Standard', in 1919.

Oldham Pals (Comrades)  football team

Soldiers in the team above:

Back row: Pte. McIntee, Cpl. Fairbrother, Sergt. T. Halliday, Pte. H. Taylor, Pte. Bates.
Middle row: Cpl. T. Bardsley, Sergt. Shaw, Sergt. Harrison, Sergt. W.O. Scholes, Pte. Malloy, Capt. A. St. G. Walsh,
Pte.H. Kenyon, Lieut. W. Taylor-Jones, Cpl. C. Whittaker, Sergt. D. Reynolds.
Front row: Capt. A.M. Winder, Pte. Thompson, Pte.Somerville, Pte. Whitehead, Pte. E. Jubb, Pte. S. Lord, Capt. S. Holden, M.C.

The Articles Published in the Oldham Standard, 1919

Heavy Fighting in France
~~~~~~~~~~
Experiences of the Trenches
~~~~~~~~~~
Bombardment Never to be Forgotten
~~~~~~~~~~

Part IV

A Terrific Battle
~~~~~~~~~~
Scenes of Carnage
Never to be Forgotten
~~~~~~~~~~
Historic June 30th
~~~~~~~~~~
How a D.C.M. was Won
~~~~~~~~~~
Part V

Fight for Mametz Wood
~~~~~~~~~~
A Wonderful Bombardment
~~~~~~~~~~
Our Lads to the Rescue
~~~~~~~~~~
Hearty Response to Emergency Call
~~~~~~~~~~
Part VI

Privations in the Mud
~~~~~~~~~~
Pioneer Work and its Risks
~~~~~~~~~~
A Gallant Officer's Award
~~~~~~~~~~
Bluffing the Germans
~~~~~~~~~~
Part VII

Transcriptions by Sheila Goodyear

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