Gallipoli Day: An Angry Vicar and a Lasting Legacy.

In April 1916,The Rev.Charles Hill wrote a letter to his local newspaper expressing his dismay at the concept of a special service in Westminster Abbey to mark the sacrifices of the ANZACs at Gallipoli. Vicar of the town of Bury in Lancashire, which was also the home of the regiment of the Lancashire Fusiliers, Rev Hill subsequently announced his plans to host a 'Gallipoli Day' service on the same day as the event in London to ensure "the part played by the sons of England, Scotland and Ireland" would not be forgotten. He added that if the men of the British Isles did not find mention at the ANZAC event, "they shall find it here". In this talk, Dr Martin Purdy discusses why the annual celebration has survived and what the vicar's decision has meant over the years to those who fought at the Dardanelles.

The meeting is open to anyone with an interest in the Great War, you don't have to be a member of the Western Front Association to attend, we would appreciate a donation of £4 to cover room and speakers fees.

Any new visitors are guaranteed a friendly atmosphere and a warm welcome from a group of like-minded enthusiasts.