Freedom day honours the Pals

Four hundred soldiers from the Queen's Lancashire Regiment brought Accrington to a standstill on Saturday lunchtime as they marched around the town centre after receiving the honour.

Today is the anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, which took place in Northern France in 1916 and claimed hundreds of young Pals' lives.

Members of Hyndburn Council have wanted for several years to give the regiment, which is the modern-day equivalent of the Pals, the Freedom but had not been able to arrange a date with the Army.

It is the highest honour it can bestow in recognition of service and achievement.

A special meeting of Hyndburn Council was held on Saturday morning to approve the awarding of the Freedom, which is in recognition of the "outstanding sacrifice made by the Accrington Pals 911th Serve Battalion) at the Battle of the Somme in the First World War."

After receiving the Freedom from the Mayor of Hyndburn Coun Sandra Hayes and council chief executive Mike Chambers, Brigadier Geoffrey Sheldon instructed his soldiers to exercise their new freedom and march around Accrington town centre.

The soldiers, based at Fulwood Barracks, Preston, were accompanied by the Queen's Divisional Band, and the soldiers flew the regiment's colours as they walked with their bayonets fixed.

Two Saxon armoured personnel carriers and two Sabre armoured reconnaissance vehicles also joined the procession.

Members of cadet groups and war veterans also took part.

This year was the last year for the next decade that such an event could have taken place, because the regiment is due to be stationed overseas, first in Bosnia, then Cyprus and Germany.

The Accrington Pals were stationed in the frontline trenches when they were ordered to go over the top.

As they marched into into No Man's Land -- believing the Germans were dead and victory was within their grasp they became the target of enemy gunfire.

In just 10 minutes, 235 pals were killed and 350 injured.