As we approach Remembrance Day 2019, we would like to take the opportunity to remember the brave men and women of our club who sacrificed their all so that we can enjoy the freedom we have today.

In 2018 ex-president Alan Hodkinson and ex-first team player Dave McCoombes led a party to the Somme in Northern France and the fields of Flanders in Belgium.

Their aim was to visit different areas and pay tribute to family and friends who had fallen in the 2 world wars.

The group visited the sobering Thiepval Memorial in France, where Alan's Great Uncle is one of the astounding 72,000 men from the British & South African Forces who are listed as they have no known resting place.
The group went on to visit the Menin Gate in Ypres, where they paid tribute to Wigan soldier Samuel Catterall and to Bernard Lowery.

The group also went on to honour local soldiers Joseph Atherton, VC hero Thomas Woodcock, Noel Chavasse and Sidney Barclay-Blair.

The final grave visited connected to Rugby Union as they laid a cross at the grave of Dave Gallagher, the first captain of the All Blacks, who died serving in New Zealand's Forces.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Lest we forget