Honour these heroes too

Just after dawn on July 1, 1916, a shrill whistle pierced an uneasy silence, the sign that it was time "to go over the top".

Thousands of men, many from Bradford, scrambled from muddy trenches over sandbags into no man's land, charging over duckboards, dodging artillery fire as they made their way unerringly towards the German lines.

By lunchtime that day, many of them lay dead or dying as the full extent of the carnage of the Battle of the Somme began to unfold.

Betty Leonard's uncle, Christopher Selby, a Bradford Pal, was one of thousands of men wounded during the early hours of the battle.

Betty, 64, has spent years researching her family tree to find out more about the hidden history of her uncle, who joined up with such patriotic fervour on the outbreak of war in 1914, only to die two years later from a wound sustained on a muddy battlefield in northern France.

Mrs Leonard, who lives in Tong, said: "I knew my uncle had fought in the war - as a child I saw his photo in a uniform - and I wanted to know what had happened to him, so I began to research my family tree.

"After looking into it, I found out he'd been wounded during the Somme and sent home. But he was later sent back again and wounded a second time. On this occasion he died of his injuries.

"He had a wife and three children when he volunteered at the beginning of the war. When you find out what happened you really appreciate what they've done.

"A couple of years ago we went to visit his grave at Rouen. When you see how many graves there are it really strikes a chord.

"I just feel that my family ought to know about him because he fought in the war and he died for them."

In another act of commemoration, part of Centenary Square in Bradford is to be dedicated to the memory of the Pals next summer.

Mrs Leonard added: "It's a brilliant idea to get a bigger, more prominent memorial to the Pals. There are so many men who fought in the war and so many tributes to be made."

Charles Ebbage, 69, of Low Moor, said he would like to see his uncle Herbert Evans, a Bradford Pal, honoured in the new Millennium gallery.

He was awarded the DCM (Distinguished Conduct Medal) for bringing wounded men out of a tank under gunfire.

He returned to Bradford and worked as a bus cleaner, for the Council, in later years.

"I think a hero's gallery is a good idea and I don't think there is enough done. Those at the younger end don't realise what went on. I think he deserves recognition too. He helped bring me up and I thought a lot of him."

Maureen Booth, 56, of Queensbury, is an avid World War I historian, and has visited the areas around the Somme on several occasions.

The last time was 18 months ago when she went to Serre, a place where many of the Bradford Pals found their final resting place.

Despite finding many memorials to Pals regiments from other counties, such as Sheffield, Barnsley, Chorley and Accrington, Mrs Booth could find no commemoration there to the Bradford Pals.

"I really feel that something should be done about it," said Mrs Booth, whose great-uncle, Earnest Morrell's name is inscribed on a giant memorial at Thiepval, one of thousands upon thousands of men whose bodies were never found.

"When you're there, you really feel that something should be done, even if it's just a small plaque like the one they have for the Barnsley Pals. There should at least be something there."

Bevan Hogg, meanwhile, of Greengates, feels that more should be done to honour the Military Medal winners.

Mr Hogg's grandfather, Lance Corporal Horrace Butterfield, was a Bradford Pal, and was awarded a Military Medal and Bar for the outstanding courage he showed rescuing two wounded colleagues under fire during an attack on the borders of Belgium.

Lance Corporal Butterfield was hit in the incident and died on November 6, 1918, just as the War to End All Wars was about to come to an end.

Mr Hogg, 55, said: "I always feel it's a little unfair to just honour people who've won VCs or George Crosses.

"The Military Medal recipients always seem to get left out, but they're just as brave as the people who win VCs or George Crosses, it's only that their acts of bravery aren't corroborated by an officer.

"Something more should be done to honour them as well."

Historian Ralph Hudson, who wrote a book called The Bradford Pals, in memory of the 1,500 men who went to the Somme, said a proper memorial was overdue - for everyone, not just those with high-ranking medals.

"You can't draw lines and say above this line they were brave and below they weren't," he said.

He remembers listening to many of the old men who had fought at a meeting of the Bradford Pals some years ago and was impressed that they would all be prepared to volunteer and serve, if they had their time again.

Mr Hudson said Bradford Council, like other authorities, helped to set up battalions when the British Army struggled with the huge numbers of volunteers.

The soldiers were clothed, fed and paid by the Council before being handed to the Army.

"They were quick enough to recruit a couple of battalions at the town hall but once the army had them that was the end of the story - until now. There should be a list of all of them."

Square in Bradford is to be dedicated to the memory of the Pals next summer.

Mrs Leonard said: "It's a brilliant idea to get a bigger, more prominent memorial to the Pals. There are so many men who fought in the war and so many tributes to be made."