Honour the Pals memorial

The Bradford Pals Memorial in France was unveiled on 18 November 2016. 

The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress attended the unveiling ceremony close to the site of the Battle of the Somme. They travelled to the ceremony with members of the World War One Group.

The memorial is a replica of the one in the memorial garden near the cenotaph in Bradford.

Honour the Pals memorial appeal

The Honour the Pals appeal raised funds for a memorial in France, as a lasting reminder of the sacrifice made by these World War One heroes. 

It is estimated that around three-quarters of the 1,394 Bradford Pals who went ‘over the top’ on the first day of the Battle of the Somme were killed or injured.

The Battle of the Somme continued until 18 November 1916, on both sides of the River Somme in France. In total, more than one million men were wounded or killed, making it one of history's bloodiest battles.

Men from Bradford were lost at Serre (the Pals), Thiepval (the Territorials) and Fricourt (10th Battalion West Yorks).

The memorial will also honour the Bradfordians who fought with these other battalions and regiments.

Having a memorial in France is important not least for educating visitors, including school children, about the immense sacrifice made by the city’s young men on the battlefields of World War One.