YP Letters: Somme commemoration especially significant

Garden Caretaker 1st Class Nick Holden at the Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery in North Yorkshire, where 23 First World War servicemen are buried or commemorated, as preparations are made to mark the Centenary of the Battle of the Somme.

From: Edward Grainger, Botany Way, Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough.

CONGRATULATIONS to The Yorkshire Post’s Andrew Vine and Mike Cowling for their words and pictures (The Yorkshire Post, June 25) ahead of the centenary of the epic Battle of the Somme.

It is of special significance to the Grainger family, marking as it does the parts played by two members of the Grainger dynasty at each end of the spread of the 100 years since the start of the battle on July 1, 1916.

My grandfather John was one of the Durham Pals who amazingly was one of very few who survived the battle. His great grandson, my son Neil Edward, has been taking part in the BBC Radio 4 series plays called Tommies.

Needless to say, I am proud of both contributions.

From: John H Langley, Rosewood Close, Bridlington.

YOUR Picture Post (The Yorkshire Post, June 27) of wild flowers and poppies in a field on the edge of Leeds was particularly eye-catching.

The significance of the poppy, which symbolises men who lost their lives in war, is relevant this week as the anniversary of the Battle of the Somme approaches.

Congratulations to the photographer, James Hardisty.