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THE REGIMENTAL CHAPELS & MEMORIALS
OF
THE QUEEN'S LANCASHIRE REGIMENT
The Red Rose Regiment |
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There are four Regimental Chapels, all within the County Palatine of Lancashire, two of which have been officially adopted by The Queen's Lancashire Regiment.
In addition, in the course of its 300 years of history, the Regiment and its predecessors have raised numerous memorials, large and small, in many parts of the world. Only a few are listed below.
Maintenance of the Chapels and Memorials is a responsibility of The Queen's Lancashire Regiment Charity.
THE REGIMENTAL CHAPELS
THE GARRISON CHURCH OF ST ALBAN, FULWOOD BARRACKS, PRESTON
Situated next to Regimental Headquarters, this Church is notable for being built at first floor level, above the barracks archway through which generations of our predecessors have marched. Completed in 1848, it is the second oldest Garrison Church in use in the United Kingdom.
The Church contains a number of Regimental memorials including:
The Crimean War Memorial of the 30th Foot, moved to Preston from Arbour Hill Garrison Church, Dublin in 1922.
The font cover, dedicated to the memory of all ranks of The East Lancashire Regiment and The Loyal Regiment who fell in World War II.
Stained glass windows commemorating The East Lancashire Regiment and The Loyal Regiment.
Within the Church are laid up the Colours of 1st Battalion The Lancashire Regiment (PWV) 1958-70.
The Garrison Church was adopted as a Chapel of The Queen's Lancashire Regiment on
25thMarch1970. 
THE PARISH CHURCH OF ST ELPHIN, WARRINGTON
The former Boteler Chapel in Warrington Parish Church, built in 1390, has been closely connected with the Regiment for over a century. In 1903 it was enclosed by a very fine oak screen to commemorate the men of 3rd Battalion The South Lancashire Regiment who died in the South African War of 1899-1902. On 9th October 1938 the Regimental War Memorial and the 1914-18 Book of Remembrance of The South Lancashire Regiment, inscribed with 5,428 names, were dedicated. These and other furnishings were designed by the celebrated architect George Kruger Gray, while the reredos and most other work in the Chapel were to the design of Lord Mottistone and Paul Paget.
On 16th May 1943, in the midst of World War II, the Chapel was solemnly set aside for all time as the Chapel of The South Lancashire Regiment. The lovely stained glass windows, the work of Hugh Easton, are the Regiment's memorial to that war, as are a further 864 names in the Book of Remembrance.
On 1st October 1961 the Chapel was adopted by The Lancashire Regiment (PWV) and on 3rd October 1976 by The Queen's Lancashire Regiment. The names of our fallen comrades from Aden and Northern Ireland joined those from earlier conflicts.
Around the Chapel are many Regimental memorials and much fine craftsmanship, eloquent testimony to the dedication of generations of our Regimental forebears. Apart from those mentioned above, the following of are particular note:
The Trumpeters' Case housing the Solly-Flood Trumpets, to be sounded upon "great and solemn occasions in the life of the Regiment, and always when the last honour is paid to its members who have given their lives for their country, or when their service and sacrifice are commemorated in after time," and the Trumpeters' Book in which these occasions are recorded.
The Address of Honour presented to the Regiment on 4th October 1947 when they were honoured with the Freedom of Warrington.
The Regimental Family Tree, carved on a 15 foot oak panel.
The Crests of our Allied Regiments in Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Above the Chapel hang the old Colours of The South Lancashire Regiment and their predecessors.
Since 1938 the annual Regimental Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving has been held in Warrington Parish Church, traditionally on the first Sunday in October, and is attended by serving and former members from far and wide.
THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST MARY, BLACKBURN
The Memorial Chapel of The East Lancashire Regiment is in the Chapel of St Martin of Tours in Blackburn Cathedral. The connection between the Regiment and the Cathedral Church dates back many years and after the 1939-45 War it was decided to build there a memorial Chapel. The simple Chapel is of a contemporary style and is divided from the choir by an etched glass screen depicting three soldier saints; St George, St Michael and St Martin. Within the Chapel is a case which holds the Regimental Roll of Honour, together with a stone altar and other fittings gifted by members of the Regiment and their relatives. Above the Chapel are suspended old Colours of The East Lancashire Regiment.
Blackburn Cathedral is the venue for the Regiment's annual Somme Commemoration Service on the first Sunday in July.
THE PARISH CHURCH OF ST JOHN, PRESTON
The association between Preston Parish Church and The Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire) goes back over one hundred years. After the 1939-45 War it was decided to put a permanent reminder in the Church to the fallen of that conflict, and on 3rd June 1950 the Loyal Regiment Memorial Chapel and Book of Honour were dedicated.
The Loyal Regiment Memorial Chapel is situated at the east end of the north aisle and is simply furnished in light oak. The architect was Major D Wynne-Thomas, who had served with 5th Loyals. On 4th June 1995 the Chapel was considerably enhanced by the dedication of a fine wrought iron screen built by the Lancashire craftsman Mr R Carter. The Chapel Screen commemorates both the 50th anniversary of the ending of the Second World War and the amalgamation of The Loyal Regiment Old Comrades' Association with the .Regimental Association of The Queen's Lancashire Regiment. The Book of Honour records the names of seventy officers and 1,134 other ranks of The Loyal Regiment who lost their lives in the 1939-45 War.
Within and around the Chapel are numerous Regimental memorials while around the Church hang old Colours of the 47th, 81st and Loyal Regiments. The Chapel is formally attended by the Regiment twice a year. The Annual Memorial Service is held on the first Sunday in June and there is a Regimental Remembrance Day Service on Remembrance Sunday after the ceremony at Preston Cenotaph.
THE REGIMENTAL MEMORIALS
THE UNITED KINGDOM
Accrington, Lancashire. St John's Church, Accrington, contains a Memorial Chapel to the 11th (Service) Battalion, The East Lancashire Regiment - the "Accrington Pals" - where an annual commemorative service is held. The Accrington Pals are also commemorated on the site of their sacrifice at Serre, France (see Serre below).
Burnley, Lancashire. There is a fine marble South African War Memorial to The East Lancashire Regiment at the West end of Burnley Parish Church. Burnley was the Regimental Depot until 1898.
Preston, Lancashire. Known locally as the Kimberley Memorial, the South African War Memorial of The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment is in Avenham Park, Preston, where a Regimental Association parade is held each year to commemorate the Defence of Kimberley, October 1899 to February 1900.
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The Kimberley Memorial to the officers and men of The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment who fell during the South African War 1899-1901 |
RMA Sandhurst, Surrey. In the Royal Memorial Chapel are white marble plaques recording the names of the Gentleman Cadets commissioned from the Royal Military College into our former Regiments who died in the First World War, oak pews carrying our Regimental badges and a Book of Remembrance recording the names of all Commonwealth officers who died in the Second World War. Another book records the names of those who have died on active service since 1945. The Regiment makes an annual contribution towards the maintenance of the Chapel.
Warrington, Lancashire. In the Queen's Gardens, Palmyra Square stands the South African War Memorial of The South Lancashire Regiment. It is a statue of Lieutenant Colonel McCarthy O'Leary, who died leading the final charge at Pieter's Hill, 21st February 1900, which led to the Relief of Ladysmith. The Regimental Association Warrington Branch observe this anniversary each year.
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The Pieters Hill Statue in Warrington of Lt Col McCarthy O'Leary, who fell leading the final charge to relieve Ladysmith during the Boer War, 1901 |
EUROPE
Serre, France. At Serre on the Somme a monument in Accrington brick was erected in 19?? To the memory of 11th (Service) Battalion The East Lancashire Regiment, 'The Accrington Pals', who suffered 584 casualties there out of the 720 men who advanced against the German wire and machine guns on 1st July 1916. An eye-witness of this attack wrote: "I have never seen, indeed could never have imagined such a magnificent display of gallantry, discipline and determination." There is also an Accrington Pals Memorial Chapel in Accrington Parish Church (see Accrington above).
Troyon, France. On the 14th September 1914 1st Battalion The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment fought its first general action of the First World War in an attempt to break through the German positions on the Chemin des Dames, above the River Aisne. The Battalion assaulted the area of a sugar factory at Troyon, losing fourteen officers and over 500 other ranks, killed, wounded and missing. A Regimental memorial, in the form of a column, was afterwards erected on the site and was unveiled by the Colonel of The Regiment in September 1923. The Regiment makes an annual payment to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for the maintenance of this monument.
Waterloo, Belgium. The Church in the town of Waterloo contains a memorial to the Officers, NCOs and Men of the 30th Foot who fell in the battle, whilst in a nearby garden lies the grave of Major Arthur Heyland, Commanding Officer of the 40th.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
Tramore Bay. In the churchyard at Tramore is a memorial to the wreck of the transport "Seahorse" off the coast of Southern Ireland on 30th January 1816. Out of 348 men, women and children of the 59th Regiment on board, returning from France after the Waterloo Campaign, there were only 29 survivors. The following day the transports "Lord Melville", carrying the remainder of the 59th, and "Boadicea", carrying the 82nd Regiment, were also wrecked near Kinsale with further heavy loss of life. This was the greatest single disaster in the Regiment's long history.
ASIA
Baghdad, Iraq. In the North Gate Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in Baghdad is the 6th Battalion Loyal North Lancashire Regiment monument, originally erected on the bank at the Diyala River to commemorate the heroic action there on 8th-10th March 1917. The Battalion made an assault crossing under heavy fire, then held a small bridgehead against repeated Turkish counter-attacks for nearly 24 hours before being reinforced. Captain 0 A Reid was awarded the Victoria Cross.
Hong Kong. In the Old Colonial Cemetery there is a memorial to 10 officers, 21 sergeants, 11 corporals, 4 drummers, 406 privates, 36 women and 107 children of the 59th Regiment who died between June 1849 and November 1958. This period included the Regiment's participation in the 2nd China War, when they earned the unique battle honour 'Canton', but, as in India, most of this heavy mortality was due to disease.
Lucknow, India. A monument at Kukrail, near Lucknow, commemorates 99 members of 1st Battalion The East Lancashire Regiment who died of cholera there in 1895. There is a similar memorial to this disaster in Rossendale Road Cemetery, Burnley.
Secunderabad, India. The 30th Foot raised a monument there to the memory of 17 officers, 61 NCOs, 526 privates, 39 women and 55 children of the Regiment who died in the Nizam of Hyderabad's dominions between 1818 and 1827. These included many veterans of the Peninsular and Waterloo Campaigns.
AFRICA
Spion Kop, South Africa. On the summit of Spion Kop, near Ladysmith, is a simple monument to two officers and ten other ranks of 1st Battalion The South Lancashire Regiment who died in that battle on 24th January 1900. The family of one of the officers, Lieutenant Frederick Raphael, donated as a memorial the painting of the Battle of Pieter's Hill which hangs in the Officers' Mess of 1st Battalion The Queen's Lancashire Regiment.
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