On This Day in History

The 11th November marks the 'Armistice'.

What does that mean – it means that at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 the fighting stopped between the Allies and Germany.

Peace was not guaranteed and various Treaties were then decided upon in an attempt to prevent a future World War. The Treaty which dealt with the defeated Germany was known as 'The Treaty of Versailles' and was signed on 28 June 1919; exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand on the streets of Sarajevo. That shooting created a chain reaction which was to result in The Great War.

In the United Kingdom, 'Remembrance' is commemorated on the nearest Sunday to 11th November and is known as 'Remembrance Sunday'. Two minutes of silence is also observed on 11 November itself.

2016 has been an extremely significant year in terms of 'Remembrance'.

In relation to The Great War, in particular, there have been a host of centenary anniversaries, commemorations and initiatives marking the end of the Gallipoli Campaign, the introduction of Compulsory Conscription, the Battles of Jutland, Verdun and the Somme and the introduction of tank warfare into the campaign.

In our village and in the hamlet of Burwardsley, extensive research has taken place in relation to the Tattenhall and Burwardsley men who died in the conflicts of both The Great War and WWII. In particular, 2 pioneers of the Tank Corps were remembered in a very moving ceremony at St John the Divine Church in Burwardsley on 15 September, the anniversary date on which tanks were first used at Flers-Courcelette.

As always, we remember those who have given their lives in all conflicts and details of our remembrance services on Sunday 13 November are listed below:

St Alban's Church, Tattenhall
Service at 10.00am.
Laying of wreaths at the Village War Memorial at 11.00am.
Coffee will be served after the event in the Barbour Institute (courtesy of the Parish Council).

St John the Divine Church, Burwardsley
Songs of Praise Remembrance Service at 4.30pm.
Light refreshments will be served after the service.

The stories of individual Tattenhall men can be viewed by visiting the Tattenhall Local History Website
http://www.tattenhallhistory.co.uk/
(images by kind permission of Keith Titchener)