A RECREATION of World War One soldiers leaving Bury’s Bolton Street Station for the front will take place next month.

A Cheshire-based theatre group will be bringing their Great War commemorative performance to the East Lancashire Railway (ELR) on Sunday, September 7.

“Over by Christmas” is a choral commemoration devised by Theatre in the Quarter as part of the Imperial War Museum’s First World War Centenary project.

The performance, which will tour selected Cheshire and Lancashire railway stations, will feature words and songs of World War One, capturing the spirit of optimism and patriotism of soldiers leaving for the front in the autumn of 1914.

A community choir of “soldiers, nurses and their loved ones” will recreate the departure at Bolton Street Station and can be watched by visitors to the East Lancashire Railway.

The performance has been supported by the Lancashire Fusiliers and the Royal British Legion, who will also participate in the event.

Kate Walker, ELR marketing manager, said: “We consider ourselves very lucky to be one of the railways chosen to host this special performance and feel that this piece will resonate with residents from the local area, particularly due to the significant role that the Lancashire Fusiliers regiment played in the World War One.

"We hope that ‘Over by Christmas’ will provide our visitors with an insight into the early days of the Great War and remind us that many of the soldiers that began their journeys at railway stations across the country did not return.”

The free event will run as part of ELR’s scheduled service and, therefore, standard train and platform fares will apply.

There will be two performances at 3.25pm and 4.10pm. Visitors interested in attending should arrive at Bolton Street Station between 2.30pm and 2.45pm for the first showing and 3.55pm for the second.

  • For more information on “Over by Christmas” at the East Lancashire Railway: visit eastlancsrailway.org.uk or theatreinthequarter.co.uk/over-by-christmas