THEY moved silently, sombrely, slowly weaving through crowds of perplexed onlookers in Piccadilly Station, the Arndale Centre and St Ann's Square; some sit, some lean, others crouch with stony faced gazes fixed upon passers-by. Decked out in First World War uniforms, these are the ghosts of the soldiers that never came home.

The so-called 'Ghost Soldiers' hand out cards bearing the names of those who lost their lives during the Battle of the Somme - which began 100 years ago today on July 1, 1916 - before breaking into a haunting rendition of We’re Here Because We’re Here – one of many songs sung amongst comrades in the hellish trenches of the First World War.

Today's events are a poignant, rousing and masterfully engineered tribute

A staggering 19,240 British soldiers lost their lives on just the first day of the battle. Four and a half months later, there were 420,000 British casualties. More than 70,000 names appear on the Thiepval war memorial in France of those men who were posted as 'missing' at the Somme.

Today's events are a poignant, rousing and masterfully engineered tribute to the sacrifice young men made on what is widely remembered as the bloodiest day in history for the British army'.

Thousands of actors in towns and cities up and down the country such as London, Bristol, Swansea, Newcastle, Salisbury and Aberdeen, helped to create the one-off, nationwide production - a project which had amazingly remained shrouded in mystery until the men began appearing this morning.

Manchester continues its remembrance events with a parade featuring military personnel and descendants of those who fought at the Somme beginning in Albert Square and finishing at Manchester Cathedral, where a service of remembrance will be held at 3pm. Whilst tonight Manchester is to host national Somme commemorations with a free concert in Heaton Park.

Watch the Ghost Soldiers sing We Are Here in Manchester Arndale below:

 

 

 

 

 

wakelet Powered by Wakelet