THE Battle of the Somme will be explored in Innerleithen this week, to raise money for the Peebles branch of the Royal British Legion and remember those who lost their lives in battle.

As part of the town’s Music Festival, the Union Club will host a special performance of The Ghost of Tommy Atkins.

The story tells of two Lancashire lads who volunteer to fight for their country at the First Battle of The Somme. 

Only one returns home, but they still ‘meet’ again once a year.
The performance is dedicated to the memory of the men of the 11th (Service) Battalion of the East Lancashire Regiment of the British Army, better known as The Accrington Pals and to all soldiers past, present and future.

And all of the proceeds will be donated to the Royal British Legion in Peebles.

The play’s name comes from the term ‘Tommy Atkins’, which has been used to describe a British soldier since at least the 1740s, perhaps earlier.

Organiser Lawrence Nelson said: “The surname Atkins is thought to be old English for ‘red earth’ and it is said that this name was chosen because of the red coats worn by British Infantry.

“But others say that there actually was a Tommy Atkins, or several in fact, who served as private soldiers down the years. There is mention of a Private Tommy Atkins who, during the Indian Sepoy Rebellion of 1845 remained at his post as a rearguard to allow his comrades to escape. He was killed at his position. 

“There is yet another explanation in that the name was chosen at random and inserted into the private soldier’s pay book as an example of how to fill in his personal details, although this example only originates roughly from the early 1900s when soldiers were first issued with pay books.

“Whatever the source, Tommy is now a universally recognised name of a British Soldier.”

The event will take place at the Union Club at noon on Saturday, August 19.

Tickets cost £9 for adults and £6 for over 60s/ex-service/RBL and are available on the door or from Peebles Royal British Legion and the Eastgate Theatre box office. Not suitable for under 16s.