There will be plenty of great sights and sounds to enjoy on this year's Whit Friday march contests in Tameside and Saddleworth & Oldham, with The Band of The King's Division chief amongst them.

One of the three professional brass bands within the British Army, they are once again competing in the world's biggest brass band contest, with a very poignant anniversary playing a major part behind their participation this year.

Battle of the Somme

1916 sees the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, with the band performing at several high profile events to commemorate the sacrifice of those who were part of the horrific conflict.

The antecedent regiments of The King's Division were involved in some of the hardest fighting on the Western Front in 1916, as this extract from 'The Regimental Handbook of The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment' shows:

"By early 1916 there were 51 Lancashire Battalions and seven Border on the Western Front. Almost all of these took part in the great Somme offensive of that year.

On 1st July 1916, the opening day of the battle, at Beaumont Hamel and Serre, the 1st and 11th East Lancashires advanced steadily across open ground in the face of German machine guns and unbroken wire, sustaining 1,100 casualties in minutes.

Border Regiment losses at 'Y' Ravine and the Thiepval Spur were equally heavy, and the 1st King's Own suffered severely at the Heidenkopf.

Further south at Montauban eight of the twelve Liverpool and Manchester 'Pals' battalions of the 30th Division met with better fortune, taking all their objectives in the major British success of the day.

Twenty of our predecessor battalions were in action that day, which is commemorated annually in the Regiment. The offensive continued until November, by which time both sides had suffered appalling losses, not least in battalions from the North West.

Among their many hard-fought and gallant actions, those around the Thiepval Spur, La Boiselle, Ovillers and Guillemont are particularly notable."

Flagship bands

In mid-2014 The King's Division became one of three flagship brass bands of the Corps of Army Music, alongside their fellow bands: The Band of The Royal Corps of Signals and The Band of The Prince of Wales's Division.

The King's Division, the Band will be making their Whit Friday appearance in full ceremonial dress, as above, whilst for their final performance at Delph they will be in their full ceremonial dress4BR

Full dress

As this is a special year of remembrance for all those with links to The King's Division, the Band will be making their Whit Friday appearance in full ceremonial dress, as above, whilst for their final performance at Delph they will be in their full ceremonial dress.

All charitable donations and winnings will go directly to the ABF — The Soldiers' Charity.

You can follow the band on Twitter @kingsdivband or on Facebook at facebook.com/kingsdivband.