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Heaton Park is Greater Manchester's largest municipal park and is well known as a green lung for city dwellers to escape to. But during World War One it was used as a major military camp for the Pals Battalions recruited by civic leaders in Manchester shortly after the outbreak of the conflict.

The parks committee of Manchester Corporation gave permission for Heaton Park to be used on 14 September 1914 - exactly a month after the war had started.

Thousands of men who volunteered lived in a tent city while they trained to become soldiers. The Manchester Pals (as they were known) left Heaton Park in April 1915, for further training and ultimately the first day of the Somme where many were killed.

Location: M25 2SW
Image shows Heaton Park in 1914
Photograph courtesy of John Hartley