Somme Battlefield WW1 Events

1^st July Remembrance Ceremony, Lochnagar Crater

1^st July 2013 at 07.28 hours

Lochnagar Crater Memorial, La Boisselle

Free

An annual remembrance ceremony takes place at the Lochnagar Crater Memorial starting at 7:28am, marking the time when the mine was blown on 1^st July 1916.

Members of the public are welcome to attend the ceremony, but are advised that the narrow roads around the Lochnagar Crater Memorial can get busy for this early morning ceremony. It is recommended that vehicles are parked considerately in the area of the village of La Boisselle and that people walk to the memorial.

For details and photos of previous ceremonies visit the website for the Friends of Lochnagar:

Website: www.lochnagarcrater.org 1st July Ceremonies

For the location and information about the Lochnagar Crater Memorial on the Somme battlefields go to:

Photograph courtesy of The Friends of Lochnagar

1^st July Somme Service of Commemoration, Thiepval

1^st July 2013

Location: Thiepval Memorial to the Missing, Thiepval

Time: 10.45 hours

Free. Members of the public are very welcome to attend the ceremony. It is suggested that visitors make their way to the memorial a little before the start time of 10.45 hours.

The Somme Service of Commemoration will take place to mark the 97th anniversary of the launch of the Battle of the Somme on 1^st July 1916.

The Royal British Legion arranges the service with the assistance of the British Ambassador to France, together with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

All Royal British Legion and Service Associations' Standard Bearers are required to muster at the Thiepval Memorial at 10.00h hours. For any enquiries about the parade and ceremony you may contact the RBL Somme Branch by email to Chris Berridge.

Website: www.britishlegion.org.uk/branches/somme

For information about the Thiepval Memorial and its location on the Somme battlefields see our page at:

1^st July Ceremony of Remembrance, Ulster Tower Memorial

1^st July 2013

36th (Ulster) Division, Ulster Tower Memorial, near Thiepval

Free. Members of the public are very welcome to attend the ceremony.

A ceremony will take place at the 36th (Ulster) Division Memorial to mark the 97th anniversary of the launch of the Battle of the Somme on 1^st July 1916. This is the location where the 36th Division took part in the battle.

For the location of the Ulster Tower memorial on the Somme battlefields go to:

1^st July Ceremony of Remembrance, Newfoundland Memorial Park

Monday 1^st July 2013

Newfoundland Memorial Park, near Beaumont-Hamel

Free. Members of the public are very welcome to attend the ceremony.

A ceremony will take place at the Newfoundland Memorial Park to mark the 97th anniversary of the launch of the Battle of the Somme on 1^st July 1916. This location was where the 29th Division including the Newfoundland Regiment, attacked the German Front Line and suffered the tragic loss of heavy casualties on the first day of the battle.

For the location of the Newfoundland Memorial Park on the Somme battlefields go to:

9^th November Ceremony of Remembrance, Newfoundland Memorial Park

Saturday 9 ^th November 2013 at 11.00 hours

Newfoundland Memorial Park, near Beaumont-Hamel

Free. Members of the public are very welcome to attend the ceremony.

An official Ceremony of Remembrance will take place at the Caribou Memorial at Newfoundland Memorial Park.

For the location of the Newfoundland Memorial Park on the Somme battlefields go to:

11^th November Remembrance Day Parade, Thiepval Memorial to the Missing

10.40 hours on Monday 11^th November, 2013

Location: Thiepval Memorial to the Missing

Free. Members of the public are very welcome to attend.

The 11^th November annual Remembrance Day parade is organized by the Royal British Legion Somme Branch. The ceremony at the Thiepval Memorial will be followed by smaller services in the nearby village of Thiepval at 11.30 hours.

For enquiries about the event see the RBL Somme Branch events page at:

Website: www.britishlegion.org.uk/branches/somme

11^th November Ceremony of Remembrance, Newfoundland Memorial Park

Monday 11^th November 2013 at 11.00 hours

Newfoundland Memorial Park, near Beaumont-Hamel

Free. Members of the public are very welcome to attend the ceremony.

An informal ceremony of Remembrance will take place at the Caribou Memorial at Newfoundland Memorial Park.

For the location of the Newfoundland Memorial Park on the Somme battlefields go to:

80th Anniversary of the 1932 Dedication of Thiepval Memorial to the Missing

Venue: Thiepval Visitor Centre, Thiepval

Free admission

An exhibition and accompanying commemorative booklet have been organized to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the 1932 dedication of the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing by Sir Edwyn Lutyens. The exhibition is in the Thiepval Visitor Centre, next to the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing.

For more about the Thiepval Visitor Centre, its location and opening hours see our page at:

Thiepval Visitor Centre, Thiepval

Somme Lecture Programme 2013

Monthly from April to November at 13:00 hours

Event Location: Ocean Villas, 10 Rue Delattre, 80560 Auchonvillers, France

Admission: €10 per person (cost includes an aperitif). Advance reservation not necessary but bookings may be made in advance.

Visitors to the Somme battlefields on the Western Front have the opportunity to attend a variety of lunch time lectures by expert historians. Located in the village of Auchonvillers, within a short distance of the 1916 British Front Line, the lectures take place in a new study area close to Avril Williams’ museum. Lectures start at 1pm local time and last for approximately one hour. Most lectures will be followed by a tour of the battlefield guided by the speaker. The lecture series covers a variety of topics relating to the Great War. They are suitable for all visitors with an interest in the Great War on the 1914-1918 Western Front. After the presentation the speaker will be available to answer questions.

11^th May

In the footsteps of the 38th Division (Welsh) – Mametz Wood by Major Ian Gumm

29^th June

Flying Corps on the Somme by Peter Hart

1^st July

Launch of the Beaumont Hamel Project by Andy Robertshaw, Steve Roberts and Marc Khan

7^th September

V111 Corps at Beaumont Hamel and Serre by Bill MacCormick

14^th & 15^th September

Open day at Ocean Villas for the Project Beaumont Hamel

19^th October

Talbot House by Peter Gill

Venue

“Ocean Villas” is a popular destination for visitors to the Somme battlefields. Run by Avril Williams and her family for over 20 years “Ocean Villas” is one of the founding members of the Somme Battlefields Partners. It comprises numerous facilities for visitors including hot and cold meals for individuals and groups at the Tea Rooms, bed and breakfast facilities, a recently opened WW1 and WW2 museum collection, plus a section of original British trench in the process of being restored.

For information on the Somme Lecture Series at “Ocean Villas” and any further information you may require contact Avril Williams by email or go to the Ocean Villas website.

Email: avwilliams@orange.fr

Website: www.avrilwilliams.eu

The Western Front Association (WFA) Somme Branch Events

All WFA members and guests are very welcome to join the events organized by the WFA Somme Branch. If you have any queries please don't hesitate to contact Chairman Tim Wright by email on sommeman@googlemail.com. The Branch charges a small fee per event of €4 per person which includes tea and biscuits.

Battle Remains: Public Access & Open Days

La Boisselle Study Group (The Glory Hole)

Friday 28^th June to Monday 15^th July 2013

Location: La Boisselle

A period of days when access for the public is available to visit the archaeological site (surface area only at this time). Work will be carried out during this time by the researchers working on this major WW1 battlefield project.

For full details about the project and the open days visit the website:

Website: www.laboisselleproject.com

Project Beaumont Hamel

14^th & 15^th September 2013

Location: Ocean Villas, 10 Rue Delattre, 80560 Auchonvillers

Open day at Ocean Villas for the Project Beaumont Hamel

For information contact Avril Williams by email or go to the “Ocean Villas” website.

Email: avwilliams@orange.fr

Website: www.avrilwilliams.eu