Battle of Gheluvelt: 31st October Public Commemoration Service in Gheluvelt Park Worcester WR3 7AA

100 years on: We will never forget our Battle of Gheluvelt heroes

Members of the public are invited to attend a special event to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of a crucial World War I battle, which took place in the Belgian town of Gheluvelt.

Commemoration and service: Friday 31 October at 11.15am in the Gheluvelt Park, Barbourne Road, Worcester WR3 7AA.

Order of events

11.15am – Members of the 1st Batallion of the Mercian Regiment will march down, carrying the colours of the 1st and 4th Batallions, to a special commemorative stone located opposite the main park gates on Barbourne Road.

They will be accompanied by Private Derby XXX, the regimental mascot, the 35-strong band of the Royal Logistics Corp and members of the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regimental Association.

11.30am – a field gun will fire two shots to signal the start of the service.

Mrs. Julia Brotherton will unveil the commemorative stone. Mrs. Brotherton’s grandfather, Major Edward Hankey, commanded the 2nd Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment at the Battle of Gheluvelt.

The stone was removed from a quarry in Malvern in February, and has been donated by the Malvern Hills Conservators. A specially engraved plaque on the stone states that it is: “In memory of all ranks of the Worcestershire Regiment who served their country at home and overseas.”

The plaque also features two Worcestershire Regiment badges (one in use until 1926, the second adopted between 1926 and 1970).

The Right Reverend Bishop of Worcester, Dr. John Inge, will read a dedication.

Attendees will then move down to the Park’s World War 1 memorial feature where a Service of Remembrance will begin, conducted by Canon Paul Tongue.

The names of the 34 men who died in the Battle of Gheluvelt will be read out, followed by the laying of wreaths.

A number of display stands and stalls will promote the works of the Worcestershire Regimental Museum, Air Ambulance, Cadet Forces, Army Reserve, Ambulance services and Royal Legion.

Who is attending the event?

A number of descendants of men who fought in the battle will be present. They include the great grandson of Sir Arthur Carlton, who was Mayor of Worcester during the Great War. He was responsible for renaming the then Barbourne College Playing Fields to Gheluvelt Park, as it is known today.

The Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire, Lt Col Patrick Holcroft LVO OBE;

Colonel of the Regiment, Brigadier A. P.E. Williams O.B.E; Worcester city councillors and all the mayors and chairmen of Worcestershire are expected to attend the event, as well as officials from the town of Gheluvelt in Belgium.

About the Battle of Gheluvelt

In October 1914, around 400 soldiers from the 2nd Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment fought at Gheluvelt. Their counter-attack saved Ypres from capture and the British Army from defeat. At the end of the day, 187 men of all ranks had been killed or wounded.

Weary from ten days’ hard fighting, unshaven, unwashed and in torn uniforms but good spirits and with plenty of ammunition, they forced the young and inexperienced German enemy to withdraw and, with the few soldiers of the battalion of South Wales Borderers who had been left behind in the retreat, they cleared the area of enemy.

The heroic success of the 2nd Battalion’s counter-attack turned the course of the War, helping Allied forces to organise a more substantial defence against the Germans.

Parking arrangements

The Pump House car park on Waterworks Road will be closed to the public on 31 October 2014 until 3.00pm. Car parking is available at the north end of racecourse, via Waterworks road, where council stewards will direct you through the park (approximately 800 metres).

More information and Battle of Gheulvelt images:

Go to: http://www.worcestershireregiment.com/h_gheluvelt.php

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