Appeal to Replicate Century-Old Memorial Photograph

An appeal is being made for individuals to assist in replicating a century-old photograph, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the formal inauguration of a veterans’ village located in Lancashire. Earl Douglas Haig, who commanded the British Expeditionary Force during World War One, formally inaugurated the Westfield War Memorial Village in Lancaster in 1924. This village was established to offer care and housing for servicemen returning from the war. The original event saw hundreds gather to witness the celebratory occasion. This Saturday morning, an effort will be made to replicate that exact scene at 10:00 GMT. According to historian Dr Martin Purdy, the objective is to create a “more modern representation” of “a pretty special place.” He stated, “You don’t have to dress up in period costume, just put a warm coat on and come down and give us about an hour or so of your time so we can try and recreate this image to mark the centenary.” Situated on West Road, the village operates as a charity. Its official opening in 1924 aimed to supply residences for disabled former servicemen, and it continues to offer assistance to the armed forces community today. Dr Purdy explained, “The first residents had moved in about five years earlier, but they’d really struggled to get someone to come of any national consequence.” He added, “Haig had a long-standing relationship with this village. He’d written the foreword for the book about the need for settlement for disabled men, so he was the one who saved the day.” Kevin White, a veteran who served in the Royal Artillery with tours in Northern Ireland and the Falklands, has resided in the village for 22 years and characterized it as a “wonderful” location. He commented: “When you drive through the gate it’s like driving into another world. A wonderful world where you get help and support.” He continued, “Everyone knows each other and if somebody needs help, there will be people there.” White further stated, “I think most soldiers, if they’ve done that long service, will go through very sad times, but you learn, with the help of others, to support yourself and support each other and continue to live a life.” The finest content from BBC Radio Lancashire is available on Sounds, and updates from BBC Lancashire can be followed on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story suggestions can also be submitted to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk or via Whatsapp at 0808 100 2230. This content is Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights are reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for material found on external websites. Information regarding their policy on external linking is available.