THIS is a section of our official video coverage of the rededication of Southport's War Memorial (Cenotaph) to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of its installation, which took place on:- Friday, 29 September 2023. Sadly the full-length footage of the Drumhead Service (in 4k) of this event we uploaded has glitched on the upload to YouTube. This is the ungliched section.

We are currently re-uploading the full-length footage, but will also leave this upload on as well...

Our full photographic coverage if you have not already seen it is in our weekly Southport and Mersey Reporter Editions by clicking on these 2 links:- Part 1 and Part 2.



The event saw children from 27 local Schools taking part, along with representatives of the Armed Forces, both past and present. The school children represented the 320 local children whose parents had been tragically killed on the battlefields in World War 1, who had raised the Ł30,000 raised to build the memorial The anniversary of the original dedication of this impressive structure was conducted by the 17th Earl of Derby, Edward Richard William Stanley, on:- 18 November 1923. Lord Sranley he was a Politician, who became Secretary of State for War in 1916, and a former British Ambassador to France (1918 to 1920). He was also a former Private Secretary to Lord Roberts during the 2nd Boer War, in 1900. But, he is best known in history books for his appointment as the Director of Recruiting in World War 1, due to his schemes that paved the way for conscription and the:- 'Battalion of Pals.' Within this group were 2 men from Southport who received the Victoria Cross (VC) and whose sacrifice is marked in 2 locations next to the Memorial's Obelisk and in the Memorial Gardens, on Lord Street.

Since it was 1st built to commemorate The Great War, hundreds more were added following World War 2, and from conflicts around the world since then, including:- in Iraq and Afghanistan. The structure is now 1 of the largest outside of London, and was placed on the listed building register, on:- 15 November 1972, and later designated a Grade II* listed building, on the National Heritage List for England, on:- 5 March 2010.

Don't forget to go to this year's Remembrance Sunday Service, at the Cenotaph, on:- 12 November 2023, from approximately:- 10:15am to 12pm (noon). This annual event takes place at the same time as the National Service of Remembrance, in London. The Southport event includes a March Past, and participants are expected to stand for the proceedings. Like the National Service of Remembrance.,, this Act of Remembrance also remembers the served and sacrificed their lives, and all those who have lost lives to war and terrorism, with British and Commonwealth Territories. This includes:- serving and veteran soldiers, sailors, airmen, and women, who will be represented, together with members of the emergency services, and civilians, ensuring that no one is forgotten. This event is run, just like this Rededication Service, by the Royal British Legion (RBL).