Worcester: Events to mark Gheluvelt Park centenary

Parts of the park were given listed status in 2014

Worcester's Gheluvelt Park - created as a permanent memorial to those lost in World War One - reaches its centenary on Friday.

The park was opened by 1st Earl of Ypres, Lord French, on 17 June 1922.

It was given its name in honour of the bravery of the 2nd Battalion The Worcestershire Regiment in October 1914 in Gheluvelt, Belgium.

The memorial has since honoured all locals who have fallen in subsequent conflicts.

Some of the events planned for Friday and Saturday include a presentation on the Battle of Gheluvelt, explaining its importance in the early stages of the War, as well as council officials talking about the history of the park.

• 'The Worcesters' great achievement was to stem the German tide'

The 2nd Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment fought at Gheluvelt

Wreaths will be laid as well as a minute's silence being held, with a tree also planted to mark the occasion.

Structures in the park were given listed status by Historic England in 2014 while the park itself was put on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.

Battle of Gheluvelt, 1914

• The battle was part of the First Battle of Ypres - a key early conflict of the War as Belgian, British and French forces tried to repel the advancing German armies

• On 31 October about 370 men from the 2nd Worcestershire Regiment were instructed to retake the village of Gheluvelt, Belgium, which had been taken the day before

• At 14:00 the regiment began the counter-attack, barraged by German artillery

• The infantrymen charged and retook Gheluvelt

• 187 men were killed or wounded but they stemmed the Germans' progress

Source: Worcestershire Regiment Museum

Four hundred soldiers from the Worcestershire Regiment took part in the battle, 187 of them were killed or wounded