In December 2015 the battle streets of Rochdale were rededicated as part of the World War I centenary commemorations.
The 5 streets were each named in memory of important battles of the Great War.
Naming streets is one of the many ways that local authorities can support our service community and pay tribute to those that have made the greatest sacrifice. We should be very proud as a council to be able to remember our fallen soldiers in the way of naming a street or road after them.
These streets will be permanent reminders to future generations of the ultimate sacrifice which these brave soldiers made for our country. It is a visible and enduring way for their local community to honour the memory of residents that have fallen in the brave service of our nation.
Changing our community's physical environment to reflect the personal and individual sacrifices made for our national security is a significant sign of our enduring respect for servicemen and women and their families.
Battles the streets were named after
Here you can find information about each of these battles and remember the thousands of soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. See the battle streets of Rochdale on a map.
| Name of Battle | Date | Battle Street of Rochdale | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Battle of Mons | 23 August 1914 |
Mons Avenue, Rochdale |
This was the first major action of the British Expeditionary Force in World War I. It was a subsidiary action of the Battle of Frontiers in which the Allies clashed with Germany on the French borders. |
| The Battle of Marne | 5-12 September 1914 |
Marne Crescent, Rochdale |
The first Battle of Marne brought an end to the movement of troops across Europe. With the German advance brought to a halt, stalemate and trench warfare began. |
| The Battle of Falkland | 8 December 1914 |
Falkland Avenue, Rochdale |
The Battle of Falkland was a British naval victory over the Imperial German Navy in the South Atlantic. The British sent a large force to track down and destroy the German cruiser squadron which had defeated them at the Battle of Coronel. |
| The Battle of Verdun | 21 February - 18 December 1916 |
Verdun Crescent, Rochdale |
The Battle of Verdun was the longest single battle of World War I. The casualties from Verdun and the impact the battle had on the French Army was a primary reason for the British starting the Battle of the Somme in July 1916. |
| The Battle of Jutland | 31 May - 1 June 1916 |
Jutland Avenue, Rochdale |
This battle was one of the most anticipated naval battles in history. The British Grand Fleet collided with the German High Seas Fleet off the coast of Denmark in an encounter that became known as the Battle of Jutland. |
Street naming in support of our Armed Forces
On 17 April 2013, the council supported the implementation of a policy of offering families of fallen service personnel who have died in active duty from the borough of Rochdale a chance to have a street or road named after their loved one.