THEY came in the rain to pay their respects to the fallen of Gallipoli.

Soldiers and civilians commemorated the Lancashire Fusiliers who died in the ill-fated landings on a Turkish beach in 1915.

A service, led by former chaplain to the Fusiliers the Reverend Bill Martin, was held at Bury Parish Church on Sunday, followed by a procession to the War Memorial.

A massive number of young men from Bury made the "ultimate sacrifice" on the Gallipoli Pensinsula, starting on April 15 and lasting 37 weeks of the First World War.

With the theme of the service centred around loving one another, the sun came out as townpeople made their way to the memorial to pay their respects.

By April 25, 1915 - 10 days into the campaign - the Fusiliers had suffered heavy losses and were still losing more men.

Mr Martin said: "They lost pals, people, they had served with and grown up with.

"What I love about this service and this parade is that it cuts across the generations, and I am pleased to see people of different ages here to remember those at Gallipoli."

Major John Hallam, an organiser of the event for 30 years, said: "Gallipoli Sunday has become more than a commemoration of the soldiers who died in that conflict. "It has become a commemoration of every Fusilier who ever lost his life in the service of his regiment and his country.

"It has been commemorated every year in Bury since 1917 and we intend to carry on with it as long as we possibly can."

Before the service, Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Whistler, Deputy Colonel of the Lancashire Fusiliers, inspected the parade at the Castle Armoury drill hall and presented a certificate of commendation to Bury man Bill Dunk, aged 81, for outstanding service to the regiment.

Mr Dunk, who served at Dunkirk and in the Middle East during the Second World War, said: "Gallipoli Sunday is such an important event and receiving this award today of all days has made me very proud."

Gallipoli Sunday was particularly special for 63-year-old Mrs Louie Davies, niece of John Grimshaw.

He was one of six men awarded the Victoria Cross for the part they played in the famed attack on W Beach on April 25.

She said: "He came from a very big family and ran away to join the army.

"He looked after me when I was young and I looked after him as he got older. I loved him very much - he was a good man and a very brave one."

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