The centenary of the unveiling of Dukinfield War Memorial, Chapel Hill, has been marked with a small ceremony by local councillors.
Cllr John Taylor joined his colleagues Cllr Jackie Lane and Cllr Naila Sharif in laying a bouquet of flowers at the memorial in recognition of the landmark year.
He said: “We are immensely proud of our war memorials in Dukinfield, and of what they represent. They are all unique in their own way, but the Chapel Hill memorial, topped by the figure of a soldier, really sums up the spirit of Remembrance.
“As was said at the time of the unveiling in 1922: ‘There he stands, silent and alone, majestic, the embodiment of those who laid down their lives that we may live in freedom’.
“I hope future Dukinfield generations will take equally good care of the war memorial over the next 100 years.”
Dukinfield War Memorial was unveiled by Sir John Wood, the MP for Stalybridge and Hyde, on July 30, 1922.
Wreaths were laid by the Mayor of Dukinfield, Alderman William Underwood; by Capt George Heathcote, on behalf of the memorial committee; and by around 250 relatives.
The Rev WHF Palin of St Mark’s carried out the dedication.
The structure is 14ft 6ins in height and surmounted by a bronze figure of a soldier, 7ft 6ins tall, standing at ease in full fighting kit.
On the front is carved the Dukinfield coat of arms. On the front and back are cut: ‘To our noble dead’, and ‘Men of Dukinfield’.
Fixed on the four sides of the column are cast bronze panels bearing 460 names of the fallen. In 1950, following the Second World War, a further panel bearing 81 names was added.
The monument is built of Windy Way stone. W Hewitt and Sons, Crescent Road, carried out the work, under the supervision of Samuel Hague, the borough surveyor.
Percy George Bentham of London sculpted and designed the figure and it was made by the Morris Art Foundry, Clapham.
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