Armistice Day – The Pals

Here’s to Joseph Finnigan. My Great Great Grandfather. A fine footballer in his youth he trialed with Burnley in 1906, before rumblings of war in the Balkans put paid to his sporting ambitions. Like millions of young men across the globe he payed the ultimate sacrifice in a war that would change the world forever, the effects of which are still being felt to this very day. Gunned down just months before the end of hostilities whilst assaulting German positions in Northern France, he fell alongside his Lancastrian comrades and other young men from Durham and Yorkshire, leaving behind a young daughter Rosanna, who would later give birth to my Grandad Bernard.

At a time when the horrors of war are once more beginning to spread both globally and here in Europe it’s important to remember people like Joseph, an ordinary man from a small town where cotton was king and football a religion. Drawn into a murderous conflict by the decisions of greed driven, power crazed nation builders, it was, and ultimately still is, us the people who suffer most when conflict erupts.

With that in mind, it would be worthwhile remembering that there is far more unites us than divides us, regardless of race or religion, and it’s today of all days that we should come together and pay our respects to those less fortunate who have passed in service of our country.

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An Empire came calling’ for lads who were game.

Young, fit and healthy, no room for the lame.

Them chaps from East Lancs did not let them down.

They signed up to honour their country, their crown.

A grand old adventure to places unseen.

Course many a youngen were only to keen.

Shipped off to the Somme and the grand Dardanelles.

Little did they know, they’d be entering hell.

Over the top went fathers and sons.

A headlong assault at the enemy guns.

Like lambs to the slaughter cut down in their prime.

When the news filtered home the church bells did chime.

These brave northern lads had answered the call.

Commanded by fools who led them to fall.

Whilst generals drunk scotch on the famous Pall Mall.

The fighting was done by the Accrington Pal.