Rochdale Army Cadets research soldiers military service

Rochdale Army Cadets with photos and medals from their research into soldiers military service

Rochdale Army Cadets have been working hard researching the military service of a soldier of their choice over the last few weeks.

The cadets were given the option to select a member of their family or a soldier of any rank who has served in the Armed Services over the last 100 years.

CSgt Debbie Callaghan said: “Cadet James Pomroy researched his great grandad, Pte Alfred Pomroy, who was returned from North Africa injured. James brought in photos of two telegrams from Pte Alfred Pomroy.

“The stories the cadets told on the night about their families was amazing to listen too. All the cadets are still buzzing about the knowledge they learnt prior to the night and still are learning and sharing when they attend.

"As part of the work they prepared, several of the cadets brought family medals that were awarded for time in the forces.

"The medals brought in came often from World Wars One or Two, though some of the medals had been awarded for more modern conflicts such as Northern Ireland or Yugoslavia.

"One of the medals on display was a medal awarded by the King of Kuwait to the Allied soldiers who helped to liberate the country. The medal was awarded in July 1994 and HM Government decreed that British personnel may accept their medals as a keepsake but the wearing of the medal or ribbon was strictly forbidden.

"On the ‘Rank for the Night’; as well as Rochdale Detachment staff, SMI Crocker and SSI Crocker from No. 2 (Kohima) Company came to visit and brought along a huge collection of rank slides from the Army, Navy and RAF. SMI Crocker gave the cadets a talk on how long he had been collecting his rank slides and tested their knowledge on what they were shown.