Special ceremony and wreath-laying set to take place to mark the centenary of the unveiling of Batley War Memorial

A short service including prayers, readings and a poem will be led by Rev Jonathan Bish, of All Saints Parish Church, at the memorial, at Batley Market Place, at 12pm.

Two wreaths – one for for WWI and WWII – will be laid by Jane Roberts and Martin James, who have been leading figures in the work to get all the names included on the memorial.

After the service – which has been organised by Batley History Group, the Batley and Birstall branch of the Royal British Legion, and Batley and Birstall RAFA – tea, coffee and cakes will be served at Batley and Birstall RAFA Club, where some of the books about the war memorial will be on show.

Batley War Memorial was erected to commemorate the fallen during the First World War (1914-1918).

The unveiling of the memorial took place on October 27, 1923 and was attended by Gen Sir Ian Hamilton.

Names have been added to commemorate the fallen during the Second World War (1939-1945) and the Iraq War (2003-2011).

It is located in the Memorial Gardens, Market Place, Batley and sits on a square base surmounted by a two-stepped plinth, pedestal and a figure of a soldier wearing a greatcoat and cap standing in mourning pose. His cap is that of the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.

The dedicatory inscription is on the front face of the pedestal. It reads: “In grateful memory of the men of this town who fell in the Great War 1914-1918 and in the World War 1939-1945.”

The memorial is enclosed by a low wall with 12 pillars and on each pillar are the names of the fallen inscribed on bronze plaques. WWI, WWII and Iraq additions have been placed on metal plaques attached to the base on the six o'clock and the 12 o’clock sides.

Here is how the Batley News covered the unveiling of the memorial 100 years ago.

The ceremony took place on the afternoon of Saturday, October 27, 1923 – five years after the end of the First World War – in front of thousands of people who filled the Market Place.

Shops on Commercial Street closed temporarily for the occasion.

The unveiling was performed by General Sir Ian Hamilton, a veteran of the Dardanelles campaign, who wore the uniform of the Gordon Highlanders.

He had arrived by train from London and was met at Batley Station by the Mayor, Councillor Hamilton Crothers, and the Town Clerk, Major Thomas E Craig, who had won the Military Cross during the war.

In the Market Place a guard of honour was formed by soldiers of the 4th Battalion (Territorials) King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, under the command of Capt O W Appleyard.

It was with the 4th Battalion that the first Batley men to see active service had served – and died.

Introducing Sir Ian to the massed gathering, the Mayor regretted that it was not possible to say how many Batley men has gone to war, but 4,000 was probably a modest figure.

Of those, 782 lost their lives and were named on the memorial, he said.

With the words “To the glory of God and in memory of the heroes of Batley”, Sir Ian released a Union flag covering the figure of the soldier on top of the memorial and then removed a white cloth covering each of the pillars bearing the names of the war dead.

As he did so, he saluted each pillar. Then, in what were described as clear, ringing tones, the General said: “This town of Batley went into the Great War with a will.

“The men went forth to battle; the women wove khaki. Miles and miles of khaki poured out of Batley and the fighting men wore it, fought in it, died in it and were buried in it.

“So here today we have unveiled a figure of one of those brave Yorkshire fighters set in a ring of 12 pillars inscribed with the names of his 800 dead comrades.”

On behalf of the War Memorial Committee, Mr Theodore C Taylor , the famous head of JT and J Taylor’s, asked the Mayor, on behalf of Batley Corporation, to accept the memorial and retain custody of it for the future.

Accepting custody, the Mayor replied: “I assure you it will be a treasured possession. We will regard it as a sacred trust, ever to maintain it.”

Prayers were led by the Mayor’s Chaplain, Rev W Cooper, and Rev C A Carter, president of Batley Free Church Council.

Batley Old Band played the hymn and the National Anthem.

The first of hundreds of wreaths was laid by the Mayoress, Mrs Crothers, followed by Ald Sir Ben Turner. His wreath bore the inscription: “In memory of the brave heroes who died in the Great War to end war. May their sacrifice not be in vain.”

The character of the memorial was later praised by Sir Ian before he attended a reception at Batley Ex-Servicemen’s Club on Bradford Road.

“Absolutely simple and yet fine,” he said. “It is dignified and that the soldier should be surrounded by his comrades is very appropriate.”

Before he left, Sir Ian met Batley’s oldest war pensioner, Mr W Ashwell, who had enlisted in 1864 and served in Afghanistan.