SIR – Mr Robinson, chairman of the South Bradford Poppy Appeal, reports its raising of a “fantastic” nearly £25,000 last year.

Since remembrance dishonours the fallen and the wounded, like my great father on the Somme, unless accompanied by the post-1918 commitment “Never Again, No More War”, it is helpful to wear also a white flower to testify this. At my church we obtained a supply of white flowers from the Fellowship of Reconciliation at 19 Paradise Street, Oxford OX1 1LD, telephone 01865 250781.

I urge readers to follow suit this year in read-iness for next year’s Armistice Centenary.

Frank McManus, Longfields Road, Todmorden

Putting record straight over the Pals’ losses

SIR - The impact of the first day of the Somme was felt very strongly in Bradford but, whilst in no way underestimating this anguish, it is important to correct the oft-quoted but exaggerated casualty figures.

Each of the two Battalions of Pals numbered just under 1,000 men but the 2nd Pals were below strength having already lost men in a reconnaissance operation 24 hours previously. During the attack, each Battalion held a Company in reserve which means that the total fighting strength to go ‘over the top’ would be about 500 short of the 2,000 quoted in the T&A (February 7).

Ralph Hudson’s excellent book gives casualty figures in the days June 30 to July 3, worth quoting for their accuracy and separation of wounded, missing and died:

1st Pals:  11 officers killed, 1 missing, 10 wounded;  69 other ranks killed or died of wounds, 111 missing, 313 wounded.

2nd Pals:  16 officers and 400 other ranks killed, missing or wounded.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission lists 268 deaths amongst the men serving with 1st or 2nd Pals during these four days.  Of this total, 200 names are recorded on the Thiepval Memorial to the missing. 

Tricia Platts, Moorway, Guiseley