BRADFORD Cathedral will mark the centenary of the Battle of the Somme with a special exhibition throughout July.

The showcase will be held in cooperation with Bradford’s World War One Group.

It will celebrate the efforts of Bradford soldiers in the Great War and aims to raise awareness of the servicemen from across the Commonwealth who travelled to the battlefields to fight alongside British troops.

On Friday, July 1, at 7.30am, the Dean of Bradford, Jerry Lepine, will invite people of all faiths to the Cathedral for the tolling of the Sanctus bell for five minutes, followed by a time of silence and prayers to remember the moment the Battle of the Somme began.

There will also be a special service at 3pm on Saturday, July 9, to remember those affected by war.

Rev Lepine will lead the memorial, which will be attended by the Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, the High Sheriff, the Lord Mayor of Bradford Councillor Geoff Reid and the Bishop of Bradford.

There will also be two installations at the cathedral to honour soldiers who fought in the war.

Fallen - A Poppy Installation, will involve more than 2,000 Royal British Legion poppies being moulded into a moving memento to fallen soldiers.

The artwork, created by artist Martin Waters, will be on display in the Cathedral throughout July. People are also invited to take along their own poppies to add to the art piece.

Bradford’s World War One Group will be presenting an exhibition called Bradford and the Global War.

It will feature pictures and stories of Bradford’s soldiers, and their comrades from across the world, from India to Australia.

Tricia Restorick, from the group, said the exhibition aimed to change perceptions of the First World War.

“The Great War was a global war, fought by people from all over the world.

“People from Bradford were serving across the globe, not just in Europe, and they fought alongside people from the Commonwealth,” she said.

“It’s important for people to see that the war was not just fought by white men from Europe.

“We had hoped to make contact with people of Indian descent in Bradford, whose ancestors may have been among those Indian troops who fought at the Somme. We would love to speak to anyone whose grandfathers or great-grandfathers were there.”

There will be a free guided tour of the exhibition each Tuesday in July at 1pm. The Cathedral will be commemorating the Somme throughout July, and people of all faiths are invited to visit to pay their respects.

Places for the service on July 9 must be booked and can be done so by ringing 01274 777720 or emailing somme@bradfordcathedral.org.