Back in May the appeal was granted £6,000 to write a book about the history of the Chorley Pals, with all monies from the sale of the book going to the appeal fund.
Local authors and appeal Trustees, John Garwood and Steve Williams, have started on writing the book. It will be based on John Garwood’s 1992 book “Chorley Pals – a short history of the Company in the Great War, 1914-19” (copies available from Chorley Library or purchased at the gift shop at Astley Hall). The book will detail the history of the Chorley Pals from its formation in September 1914, their time guarding the Suez Canal in early 1916 and feature heavily their action at Serre on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on the 1st July 1916.
A major part of the book will be taken up with details (as available) of each and every man who served in the Pals, along with pictures. The aim is to have it ready by the 23rd February 2009 – exactly 94 years on from when they left the town to go to their training camp in North Wales and ultimately off to war.
More details soon.
