Bradford War Memorial is among 15 to have received greater protected status to mark the centenary of the start of the First World War's Battle of the Somme.

Memorials across the country have received new or upgraded listings, with seven newly protected and eight seeing their protection upgraded, Government heritage body Historic England said.

The Bradford memorial, which features a soldier and a sailor standing at either side of the central stone pylon, poised, as if ready to attack, is now Grade II listed.

Bradford raised two Pals Battalions - men who had signed up together and fought together, having been promised that they could serve alongside their friends, neighbours and colleagues. Very few of the Bradford Pals who went over the top on the first day of the Somme escaped death or injury.

The newly listed, or upgraded, memorials mark the consequences of the Somme, which began on July 1, 1916 and is considered to be one of the bloodiest in human history with well over a million dead or wounded by the time it ended in November that year.

The first day of the Somme was the worst in the history of the British Army, with almost 60,000 soldiers killed, wounded or missing.

Among the memorials receiving new or upgraded listed status are several commemorating the Pals Battalions, groups of men who signed up together as friends and then fought - and died - together.

Many of them did not see major action until the Somme, when they suffered heavy casualties, with towns, cities and even particular streets losing a large number of men.

The Bradford Pals formed part of the West Yorkshire Regiment. At 7.30am on July 1, 1916, 2,000 young men from Bradford left their trenches and by the end of the first hour of the battle 1,770 of them had either been killed or injured.

There are also memorials which remember the role of nurses, vets, and a young Scout who escaped death in a sailing accident, which claimed the lives of seven people, only for him to be killed at the Somme.

One of the newly listed memorials is a simple stone pillar on the North Yorkshire Moors, commemorating two young shepherds who were friends since boyhood and signed up together in 1914.

One of them, Robert Leggott, was only 17 years old when he enlisted, lying about his age to join up, and he died on the Somme, with his body never found.

First World War and Heritage Minister David Evennett said: "These memorials are a poignant reminder of those who lost their lives in the Battle of the Somme 100 years ago and an important part of our heritage.

"It is only right that they are protected to ensure that we continue to remember the sacrifices made during the First World War."

Roger Bowdler of Historic England said: "Important as it was for wearing down the enemy, the battle of the Somme demanded a terrible price in lives lost from across the land.

"Alongside the Thiepval Arch on the battlefield, newly listed and upgraded memorials remind us of how communities at home paid tribute to those they had lost."

The listings come ahead of a ceremony marking the centenary of the Somme at Thiepval, France, and vigils around the UK later this week.

On Friday, the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Geoff Reid, invites the public to join a service in the city.

The event will take place at 11am at the Bradford Pals' Memorial, in the Memorial Garden behind the Bradford War Memorial, close to the Alhambra Theatre.

A service will be conducted by The Dean of Bradford The Very Reverend Jerry Lepine with a performance by Cullingworth Village School Choir.

Bradford WW1 Group will give a short address and HM Lord Lieutenant for West Yorkshire Dr Ingrid Roscoe will read The Soldier by Rupert Brooke. The City of Bradford Pipe Band will also be playing at the start and end of the event.

Lone bugler, Brian Anderson from the Band of the West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service, will sound The Last Post to mark the start of a one minute's silence. Reveille will end the silence.

Following the minute's silence there will be a wreath-laying ceremony. HM Lord Lieutenant, Dr Ingrid Roscoe will be the first to lay a wreath, followed by the Lord Mayor who will lay a wreath on behalf of the district. Members of the Bradford World War One group will also lay a wreath followed by others.

Cllr Reid said: "It is so important for us to honour the memory of the Bradford Pals and this year more than ever. The Battle of the Somme and the part the Bradford Pals regiment played remains a significant chapter in our history and one that must never be forgotten."

The newly listed memorials are:

Bradford War Memorial, Prince's Way, Bradford, West Yorkshire, Grade II listed;

Memorial to the Leeds Pals (15th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment),

Colsterdale, Breary Banks, Healey, West Yorkshire, Grade II listed;

Carlton Colville Scouts Memorial, St Peter's Road, Carlton Colville, Suffolk, Grade II listed;

Commondale Shepherd's Memorial, Commondale, North Yorkshire, Grade II listed;

1st Surrey Rifles, St Giles' Church, Camberwell, London, Grade II listed;

Green Howards Regimental Cross, Richmond, North Yorkshire, Grade II listed;

Penrith War Memorial at St Andrew's, Penrith, Cumbria, Grade II listed.

The memorials which have had their protected status upgraded are:

Accrington War Memorial, Oak Hill Park, Lancashire, upgraded to Grade II*;

Barnsley War Memorial, Church Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, upgraded to Grade II*;

Sheffield War Memorial, Barker's Pool, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, upgraded to Grade II*;

Preston War Memorial, Market Place, Preston, Lancashire, upgraded to Grade I;

City and County of London Troops War Memorial, Royal Exchange, London upgraded to Grade II*;

The Rifle Brigade War Memorial, Grosvenor Gardens, Westminster, London, upgraded to Grade II*;

Lichfield War Memorial, Bird Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire, upgraded to Grade II*;

War Memorial at All Saints (Garrison Church), Aldershot, Hampshire, recognised in the Church's list entry.