On Friday 1st July, 100 years after the start of the Battle of the Somme, children from Aycliffe Village Primary School joined villagers on the village green to remember this event.
The Service included: prayers, readings and songs. The children sang songs sung by soldiers as they marched to war. A boy from Year 5 read a letter that had been written by a soldier, Eric Heaton, who died on the first day of the battle. A poem written by Ivor Gurney, a survivor of the battle, was read by children in Year 5.
The Mayor of Great Aycliffe and children from the school laid wreaths to remember the many men in Aycliffe who died in the battle. Reception class children also hung remembrance tags on the memorial trees.
After the Service the children walked back to school singing their war songs.
By Laura and James, Year 5
