This film is part of Free

Mellor: Crich

Memories of past conflicts on a sombre Summer's day in Derbyshire.

Amateur film 1965 5 mins Silent

From the collection of:

Logo for Media Archive for Central England

Overview

Belper film-maker Norman Mellor shot these scenes of the annual July pilgrimage made by the Sherwood Foresters to their war memorial at Crich in Derbyshire. The event continues a tradition that began with the unveiling of a memorial at the historic vantage point to commemorate the 11,409 soldiers of the regiment who died during the First World War. The Foresters' distinctive ram mascot also makes an appearance for this show of ceremony and solemnity.

The war memorial at Crich was dedicated in 1923 and replaced an earlier beacon that had fallen into disuse. The traditional pilgrimage continues annually with the Sherwood Foresters latterly becoming part of the Mercian Regiment. The National Tramway Museum that is also situated at Crich and features at the end of this reel had begun operating electric services in 1964.