Local people gather to mark Remembrance Sunday in Austerlands

Residents in Austerlands joined local dignitaries for the Remembrance Sunday service at Saddleworth’s oldest Great War Memorial.

Almost 200 residents came together to honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom of the country. 

Proceedings were conducted by Mr Roger Fielding; The Last Post was sounded by locally raised Vicky Prescott and Mrs Susan Smith read extracts from the poem the Lads of Austerlands and Scouthead written by Ammon Wrigley, in 1918, when he lived in the village. 

A report on the unveiling of the monument on August 7, 1920, was printed in the Order of Service and research by Mrs Smith ensured that the names and regiments of the men who fought and fell in the Great War were also published. 

Residents told how they felt privileged to once again see a representative from the Greater Manchester Lieutenancy presenting a wreath on behalf of His Majesty the King.  

They were equally proud to receive a wreath from the Mayor of Oldham, Cllr Pam Bryne, which was placed by Cllr. Garth Harkness in his capacity as one of the Ward councillors for the area. 

Wreaths were also laid by former RAF squadron leader Mr Robert Knotts, in his position as the Mayor of Austerlands and by Saddleworth Parish Council chairman, Cllr Barbara Beeley, followed by Mrs Jackie Ridding chair of the Scouthead & Austerlands Community Group and, linking the generations, by Louie Wild a member of Oldham’s Youth Council. 

Wreaths were similarly laid by Oldham District Ward Councillor Ioan Williams on behalf of the Reform UK party; by Higher Springhead parish councillor Michael Powell on behalf of the Liberal Democrats and by Local Police Community Support Officer Mark Detheridge. 

Event organiser, David Needham said: “From an informal gathering of a handful of people, started in 1979, acceptance of the Remembrance Day event has grown considerably over the last few years. We are more than pleased with the large turnout which helps to honour the promise made at the village’s war memorial at its unveiling in 1920… that the monument would be a shrine to keep their memory green and unfading forever. 

“We are grateful to all participants in the day’s service and very much appreciate the involvement of the Scouthead & Austerlands Community Group who provided the marshals for crowd control & traffic management.” 

Members of the group also decorated the area with giant poppies & Remembrance Tommy lamppost signs to promote their successful sponsorship campaign, which has resulted in a significant increase in donations to the Saddleworth branch of the RBL compared with previous years.