William Young, who received the Victoria Cross, is buried in Preston Cemetery where the folk band will play

The Preston men who gave their lives in the First World War are to be remembered during Remembrance weekend.

A free event at Preston Cemetery is to see a guided tour of the war graves and then a performance by a band led by a WW1 historian.

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Harp and a Monkey, a folk trio, will perform at the cemetery off New Hall Lane.

Buried at the cemetery include William Young who won the highest honour of the battlefield, a Victoria Cross, in France in 1915. A plaque in his memory is now on the Flag Market.

Councillor McManus unveils the plaque, young descendants of Private Young around the plaque

He will look on as Harp and a Monkey play their concert among the graves.

Read more: Details of Preston’s Remembrance Sunday 2016 service

Band singer and raconteur Martin Purdy, who is an internationally respected military historian, said: We have been playing in unusual places around the country with links to the conflict, from a prison that housed conscientious objectors to a railway carriage that brought home the body of the Unknown Soldier.

“This is, however, the first time that we have played in a cemetery – although it makes perfect sense. We always think of those rows of white Commonwealth War Graves’ headstones on foreign shores, but don’t give too much thought to the ones housed in our own communities.”

Read more: Preston Cemetery memorials review halted by council

The event starts at 12noon on Saturday (12 November) with a guided tour of the two main First World War grave sites.

Deputy leader of Preston City Council councillor John Swidells said: “We have 324 First World War graves and it is important to us that these men’s stories are not forgotten. This is the first time that we have tried an event of this nature, but it is a great opportunity to raise the profile of these historic graves and offer people the opportunity to learn more.

“As well as the tours and performance, the local infantry regiment and local schoolchildren have been working with the council’s cemetery team preparing the back stories of some of these men. It would be great to see lots of people support this unique experience.”

No registration is needed for the event. Just turn up. It’s suitable for all ages.