Lest We Forget: The Nicholson War Memorial

Huge crowds flock to Leek to witness the unveiling of the town's tribute to the Great War's fallen. At 90 feet the Nicholson War Memorial is the tallest in the country.

The Nicholson War Memorial in Leek was commissioned by Sir Arthur and Lady Marianne Nicholson to honour their son Basil Lee Nicholson who was killed at the Battle of Ypres in 1915. 535 local men killed in action are commemorated on the memorial. The opening ceremony in front of a very large crowd, no doubt swollen by the closure of many local factories that afternoon, is performed by Sir Charles Harrington, then in charge of Northern Command of the British Army.