Two-minute silence for Battle of the Somme 100th anniversary

Battle of the Somme anniversary - two-minute silence at Rochdale Cenotaph

A two-minute silence was held at Rochdale Cenotaph today (Friday 1 July) to mark the 100th year anniversary of the start of the Battle of the Somme.

The Mayor and Mayoress, Ray and Elaine Dutton, joined with the Chairman of the Royal British Legion and Fusilier Association, Tom Bailey, to commemorate and honour the soldiers that lost their lives in the battle, with took place between 1 July and 18 November 1916.

Mayor Dutton said: “We held a solemn two minute silence between 7.28 and 7.30am on Rochdale Cenotaph. It is a very important event to be marked, lest we forget.”

The Battle of the Somme, also known as the Somme Offensive, was a battle of the First World War fought by the British and French against the Germans.