A Surprise in the Dales
A couple of weeks ago my wife and I were heading back to Castleford in West Yorkshire having spent a couple of days near Hawes. The weather was fantastic for March so we ambled back visiting Askrigg, Castle Bolton and then having lunch at Jervaulx Abbey. We decided over lunch to take the road over the tops which eventually drops down to the village of Lofthouse in Upper Nidderdale. This road is quite a detour but gave us chance to see a part of the dales that not a lot of people bother with. Just past the lovely village of Healey we saw one of those brown signs that point you to something interesting. When we were close enough the sign pointed right and had written on it “Leeds Pals Monument “. We had the time so we followed the single track road for about a mile and came across the simple monument.
The monument is built on the spot where the Leeds Pals trained ready for action in the First World War (for a full and interesting story visit the web site www.leeds-pals.com). You can still see the foundations where the temporary dwellings were built for the young men of Leeds. As Janet and myself stood there, in almost total silence, the only ones around apart from the lapwings, on a clear warm day, it was difficult to imagine a more peaceful location. We could not imagine the contrast between the spot where we stood and the front line of the Somme in the opening day or two for that is where the lads (The Pals) were sent. Most perished at the start of the Somme and it is difficult to stand on that spot and not feel emotional.
Leeds Pals Memorial
It’s not for me to argue the rights and wrongs of war, especially when so many have given their lives like the Leeds Pals. However, I would suggest that if you ever want time to reflect on such an emotive issue, visit the monument, enjoy the peace, enjoy the Dales, and be thankful.
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