Skip to content

Call to re-create 100-year-old memorial photo

Westfield War Memorial Village Lancaster The original black and white photograph of Earl Douglas Haig officially opening the Westfield War Memorial Village. Haig is standing in the centre of the village bowling green surrounded by local dignitaries and crowds of people. Westfield War Memorial Village Lancaster
Hundreds of people turned out for the original opening event in 1924

People are being urged to help re-create a 100-year-old photograph to mark the centenary of the official opening of a village for veterans in Lancashire.

In 1924, Earl Douglas Haig - who led the British Expeditionary Force in World War One - officially opened the Westfield War Memorial Village in Lancaster, which had been built to provide care and accommodation to returning war heroes.

Hundreds of people turned out to enjoy the fanfare of moment and, on Saturday morning, there will be an attempt to recreate the very same scene at 10:00 GMT.

Historian Dr Martin Purdy said the idea was to try to make a "more modern representation" of "a pretty special place".

"You don't have to dress up in period costume, just put a warm coat on and come down and give us about an hour or so of your time so we can try and recreate this image to mark the centenary," he said.

BBC/Paul O'Gorman Head and shoulders shot of Dr Martin Purdy smiling in the villageBBC/Paul O'Gorman
Dr Martin Purdy has said Westfield War Memorial Village is "a pretty special place"

The village, on West Road, is a charity and officially opened in 1924 to provide homes for disabled ex-servicemen. It still provides support to the armed forces community.

"The first residents had moved in about five years earlier, but they'd really struggled to get someone to come of any national consequence," Dr Purdy said.

"Haig had a long-standing relationship with this village. He'd written the foreword for the book about the need for settlement for disabled men, so he was the one who saved the day."

BBC/Paul O'Gorman General view of the village showing a row of stone cottages behind a rectangular patch of neat grass. There is a black silhouette of a soldier in the foregroundBBC/Paul O'Gorman
The village houses and provides support for military families

Kevin White, who served in the Royal Artillery and served on tours in Northern Ireland and the Falklands, has lived at the village for 22 years described it as a "wonderful" place.

He said: "When you drive through the gate it's like driving into another world. A wonderful world where you get help and support.

"Everyone knows each other and if somebody needs help, there will be people there.

"I think most soldiers, if they've done that long service, will go through very sad times, but you learn, with the help of others, to support yourself and support each other and continue to live a life."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas to [email protected] and via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.

More on this story
Related internet links