Somme Battlefield Local Events

Somme Lecture Programme 2012

Monthly from 7 April to November 2012 at 13:00 hours

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

Visitors to the Somme battlefields on the Western Front have the opportunity for a third year 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 2012 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.

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

Saturday 7 April 2012

Horsemen in No Man's Land: British Cavalry and Trench Warfare 1914-1918 by Dr. David Kenyon

Saturday 12 May 2012

The Platoon: An Infantryman on the Western Front , 1916-18 by Andrew Robertshaw and Steve Roberts

Sunday 13 May 2012

Tour: Conducted driving tour of sites associated with the film “The Platoon”. Price 10 Euros per head. Starts in Auchonvillers at 10a.m. and ends at 1p.m. Transport can be booked with return to Auchonvillers at additional cost. Presenters: Andrew Robertshaw and Steve Roberts

Saturday 9 June 2012

Gommecourt by Bill MacCormick

Saturday 30 June 2012

Somme Success: the Royal Flying Corps and the Battle of the Somme, 1916 by Peter Hart

Saturday 30 June 2012

SPECIAL: Walking tour of sites associated with the film “The Somme”. Starts in Auchonvillers at 09.30 and ends at 12.00. Presenters: Andrew Robertshaw and Steve Roberts

Saturday 30 June 2012

Evening showing of "The Somme 1916" with Andrew Robertshaw, Steve Roberts and David Kenyon

Sunday 1 July 2012

SPECIAL: Ceremony in the Sunken Lane, Beaumont Hamel with Andrew Robertshaw and Steve Roberts.

Saturday 15 September 2012

Talbot House - A Home From Home (Musical Performance) by Peter Gill.

Saturday 13 October 2012

In A Familiar Foreign Land: The Experience of Front Line Medical Officer on the Somme 1918 by Ian Passingham.

Saturday 10 November 2012

Two Battles of Beaumont Hamel, 1916 by Derek Bird.

Somme Lecture Programme 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”, an online booking form and contact details go to the link for What's On at:

Website: www.avrilwilliams.eu

Annual Lochnagar Crater Remembrance Ceremony

1^st July 2012 at 07.28 hours

Lochnagar Crater Memorial, La Boisselle, France

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.

For details and photos of previous ceremonies see 'The Friends of Lochnagar' web site.

For the location of the Lochnagar Crater on the Somme battlefields go to:

Lochnagar Mine Crater Memorial

Photograph courtesy of The Friends of Lochnagar.

Annual Service of Remembrance at Thiepval Memorial to the Missing

1^st July 2012

Thiepval Memorial to the Missing, Thiepval

A ceremony will take place to mark the 96th anniversary of the launch of the Battle of the Somme on 1^st July 1916. The ceremony will be attended by Royal British Legion Standards.

For information about the Thiepval Memorial and its location on the Somme battlefields go to:

Thiepval Memorial to the Missing

Annual Ceremony of Remembrance at Ulster Tower Memorial

1^st July 2012

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

A ceremony will take place at the 36th (Ulster) Division Memorial to mark the 96th 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:

36th Division Ulster Memorial Tower

Annual Ceremony of Remembrance at Newfoundland Memorial Park

1^st July 2012

Newfoundland Memorial Park, near Beaumont-Hamel

A ceremony will take place at the Newfoundland Memorial Park to mark the 96th 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:

Newfoundland Memorial Park