Council flags lowered for Somme centenary

Flags have been lowered to half mast over Moray Council headquarters in Elgin today to mark the centenary of the first day of the Battle of the Somme.

The battle, which raged from July 1, 1916 for more than four months, was not only the costliest in terms of lives lost during the First World War, it was also one of the bloodiest in the history of mankind.

On the first day alone, almost 20,000 British service personnel were killed.

Moray Council convener Councillor Allan Wright said that even though a century had passed, it was important to remember the ultimate sacrifice that so many had made.

“Men from Moray were among those who gave their lives at the Somme and the numbers, from all sides, who were killed or wounded during the campaign almost defies comprehension,” he said.

“That is why, as we commemorate the centenary of the Battle of the Somme, we must continue to honour those men and ensure that they are not simply names on a war memorial.”

Moray Council area stretches from Tomintoul in the south to the shores of the Moray Firth, from Keith in the east to Forres in the west. The council and its 4,500 employees respond to the needs of 92,500 residents in this beautiful part of Scotland, which nestles between Aberdeenshire and the Highlands.

Famous for its colony of dolphins, fabulous beaches and more malt whisky distilleries than any where else in Scotland, Moray is a thriving area and a great place to live.

Headquartered in Elgin, the administrative capital of Moray.