THAT the successors of the disbanded East Lancashire Regiment are to receive the Freedom of the Borough of Accrington and District ('Hyndburn' seems oddly inappropriate) may to some seem overdue.

However, we must remember that for those who knew and loved the lads killed within living memory, feelings about the 'military' are very mixed.

Had the Accrington Pals been given a 'sporting chance' it would have been bad enough, but, for many, what happened was inexcusable because the tactics had failed previously time and time again, with mounting losses each time.

The tragedy was the inability of the General Staff to learn the lessons or indeed any lesson other than 'greater everything will prevail.'

So longer bombardment and more men would simply overwhelm the enemy, when all it did was give the Germans ever-increasing advance notice of an attack and larger targets when it came.

Now that the old generation has gone and the 'Pals' have been enlisted as 'tourist attractions,' the council could but for shame not do the right thing, although to a few it will be with very mixed feelings.

While happy to see the honour confirmed, at the same time, I respect the feelings of the past generation which struggled with swelled chests and bitten lip.

I can understand why the 'honour' has long been withheld.

D PRATT, Plantation Street, Accrington.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.