Villagers in Newington will mark the centenary of the start of the Battle of the Somme on July 1 with a commemoration event around the Memorial Garden poppies at 2pm.
Newington lost 31 men in World War One and the tribute, organised by Newington History Group (NHG), will remember those villagers killed at the Somme during the first four months.
Pupils from Newington CofE primary school, who are taught about the lives of the local men who fought in the war, will join the community event - A Moment to Remember - under the village sign alongside the A2.
There will be the unveiling of a plaque to all the village’s war dead at a short ceremony, along with a two minutes silence. The plaque and Memorial Garden have been donated by NHG.
The five soldiers who died in the early months of the battle were: L/Cpl Henry Bishenden, 35, 1st Bn Queen's Own (Royal West Kent), died Sept 3; Rifleman Harold Brand, 23, 1st/5th Bn London, from Rainham who was the Newington parish church organist, died Sept 6; Pte Edgar Hales 27, 1st/9th Bn The Buffs (East Kent), died Oct 2; Pte James Mannering, 35, 6th Bn The Buffs (East Kent), died Oct 6 and 2nd Lieut Alexander John Hanmer MC, 20, 3rd Bn attd. 6th Bn The Buffs (East Kent), died Oct 7.
The Battle of the Somme began on July 1, 1916, was one of the bloodiest battles in history. Fought on both sides of the river Somme in France, it lasted until November 18.
The first day of fighting resulted in 57,470 British casualties, more than the combined British casualties of the Crimean, Boer and Korean wars.
For more information contact: Richard Thompstone, NHG publicity officer, 07967 332866, or Thelma Dudley, NHG secretary, 01795 842711.
Richard Thompstone
space
