Residents lined the streets in Bury town centre as The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers to remember those who fell during a military campaign in Turkey during the First World War.

More than 300 Fusiliers, veterans, cadets and VIP took part in the event, which took place on Sunday, St George’s Day, to mark the 55th anniversary of the regiment’s formation.

At dawn on April 25, 1915, the 1st Battalion of Lancashire Fusiliers, part of the British 29th Division, landed on a beach, to the west of Cape Helles - the southernmost tip of the Gallipoli Peninsula.

The Lancashire Fusiliers were famously awarded "six Victoria Crosses before breakfast" and W Beach was renamed Lancashire Landing in honour of the battalion that captured it.

But the successful capture of “W Beach”, resulted in up to 700 members of the regiment being killed or wounded.

Bury Times: Three Fusiliers walk down the aisle at Bury Parish Church at the service to commemorate Gallipoli Three Fusiliers walk down the aisle at Bury Parish Church at the service to commemorate Gallipoli (Image: Danny Crompton)

The commemorations began with a packed church service at Bury Parish church ahead of a wreath-laying ceremony to remember the fallen at Gallipoli.

The parade was made up of Fusiliers, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Band and Corps of Drums Lancashire, Fusilier Association, Cadets, Sea Cadets and representatives from the Lorne Scots in Canada.

Families turned out in force to show their support for the commemorations.

Bury Times: Fusiliers, veterans and special guests attended the Gallipoli commemorationFusiliers, veterans and special guests attended the Gallipoli commemoration (Image: Danny Crompton)

Bury Times: Men who have served on HMS Euryalus, which landed the Fusiliers at GallipoliMen who have served on HMS Euryalus, which landed the Fusiliers at Gallipoli (Image: Danny Crompton)

Mike McDonald, area secretary North of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers said "Gallipoli is such an important date in the Fusilier calendar, so it was great that the regiment could come together to commemorate the occasion with a special service and parade through the town.

"It was also a fitting day to host the parade on St George's day which is the day the regiment was originally formed in 1968.

"A big thank you to the people of Bury who came out to show their support on this special day and joined us in paying tribute to all those who took part and lost their lives in the Gallipoli campaign all those years ago."

The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, known as "The Fusiliers", is an English infantry Regiment in the British Army, formed from four historic Fusilier Regiments in 1968.

Bury Times: The event in BuryThe event in Bury (Image: Danny Crompton)

Bury Times: The church service and parade took place on St George's DayThe church service and parade took place on St George's Day (Image: Danny Crompton)

Bury Times: Tony Ingham C/O of the Oxford Sea CadetsTony Ingham C/O of the Oxford Sea Cadets (Image: Danny Crompton)

Since then, the Fusiliers have seen service across the world in Northern Ireland, Cyprus, the Balkans, the 1st and 2nd Gulf Wars and Afghanistan.

The Regiment has two battalions – the First Fusiliers in Tidworth and Fifth Fusiliers in Newcastle – and both adapt readily to challenging scenarios.

Bury Times: The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers led a military remembrance parade through BuryThe Royal Regiment of Fusiliers led a military remembrance parade through Bury (Image: Danny Crompton)

 

Bury Times: Fusiliers taking part in the Gallipoli remembrance parade in Bury on St Georges' DayFusiliers taking part in the Gallipoli remembrance parade in Bury on St Georges' Day (Image: Danny Crompton)

 

Pictures and video by Danny Crompton