I am asking for contributions on behalf of the Somme 100 Working Group. For more information on the Working Group, please visit: http://www.freemanstreetmarket.co.uk/somme-project/.

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On July 1st 1916 at 0730, thousands of men went over the top to try and dislodge the Germans from their positions. Eight days of pounding from our guns and an enormous mine which was intended to be under through enemy’s trenches had preceded them.

They were told that they could walk from their positions without too much opposition and weighed down by heavy equipment on their backs they clambered out of their trenches, over 800 from the Grimsby Chums alone, they were met by merciless machine gun fire raking the battle ground from which less than 300 survived.

So this is a day that the people of Grimsby will not easily forget as the finest of our young men met their untimely death. This battle then went on until November 18th 1916. After a successful drumhead service at People's Park on July 1st 2016, we will now commemorate the end of the Battle with a week of events including Remembrance Day, Grimsby Chums exhibition, veterans' social evening, and the unveiling of the colours we are looking for funding through this Justgiving page. These events will take place primarily at Freeman Street Market, in the heart of the East Marsh area of Grimsby.

In 2016, many people and organisations in the Grimsby area feel that this 100th anniversary should be commemorated and all those that fought so bravely for our independence which we still enjoy. We hope you will join and support them on this anniversary by donating to our cause, as well as attending the events on that November week (more details to be released closer to the time).

The Commemorative Colours will be dedicated at a 2pm service on November 11th in the Courtyard, Freeman Street Market, and will be used in the Remembrance Sunday march from Grimsby Minster to the Cenotaph.