World War One battle streets to be re-dedicated in Rochdale

Councillor Alan McCarthy, Lead Member for the Armed Forces

Mons Avenue, Falkland Avenue, Jutland Avenue, Marne Crescent and Verdun Crescent, five streets in Rochdale named after World War One battles, will be re-dedicated next month during a public ceremony in the town.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/96400/streets-named-after-battles-to-be-rededicated

The streets are being re-dedicated as part of an ongoing programme to help ensure future generations understand about sacrifices made during past conflicts.

The dedication service will take place at the corner of Jutland Avenue and Longfield Road. As part of the re-dedication, new commemorative road signs will be installed, along with an information board giving a description of each of the battles.

Residents are invited to attend the event at 1.00pm on Sunday 13 December.

Councillor Alan McCarthy, the council’s lead member for Armed Forces, said: “The battles are a significant part of our history. Starting with Mons in 1914 which was the first World War One encounter between British and German troops to Jutland in 1916 which brought an end to the German Navy. The centenary of the Great War allows us as a community to shorten the gap of time. It is important as a community that we do not allow our history to be forgotten.”

A street closure will be in place prior to the service and will run from Longfield Road South from the junction of Falkland Avenue to Jutland Avenue, and from Jutland Avenue East from the junction of Marne Crescent to Longfield Road. Additional parking will be available at Spotland Stadium, Willbutts Lane or the nearby Denehurst Cemetery.


The Battle of Mons
23 August 1914

The Battle of Mons was the first major action of the British Expeditionary Force in the First 
World War. It was a subsidiary action of the Battle of Frontiers in which the Allies clashed with Germany on the French borders.

The Battle of Falkland
8 December 1914

The Battle of the Falkland Islands was a British naval victory over the Imperial German Navy during the First World War in the South Atlantic. The British, after a defeat at the Battle of Coronel on 1 November, sent a large force to track down and destroy the victorious German cruiser squadron.

The Battle of Marne: 
6 September 1914

The First Battle of the Marne was conducted between 6-12 September 1914, with the outcome bringing to an end the war of movement that had dominated the First World War. With the German advance brought to a halt, stalemate and trench warfare began.

The Battle of Verdun: 
21 February 1916

The Battle of Verdun was the longest single battle of World War One. The casualties from Verdun and the impact the battle had on the French Army was a primary reason for the British starting the Battle of the Somme in July 1916.

The Battle of Jutland: 
31 May 1916

A naval battle fought by the British Royal Navy`s High Seas Fleet during the First World War. It was one of the most anticipated naval battles in history. On 31 May 1916 the British Grand Fleet encountered the German High Seas Fleet off the coast of Denmark in what became known as the Battle of Jutland.