UK to mark centenary of start of battle of Somme with overnight vigils
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Version 0 of 1. Overnight vigils will be held at Westminster Abbey as well as in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on 30 June to mark the centenary of the start of the battle of the Somme. The government will announce the full plans to mark one of the bloodiest encounters in military history, which over the ensuing 141 days would leave more than 1.5 million men dead, injured or missing in action. With two more years of fighting to come, the war would eventually touch almost every household and community in Britain. On 1 July, the anniversary of the first day of battle, there will be a national service of commemoration at Manchester Cathedral, followed by a procession to Heaton Park, which was used as a training ground for the Manchester Pals battalions: of the 10,000 men who enlisted almost half would be lost. The day will end with live performances of music, readings and dance. The Halle Orchestra will also perform. Apart from the vigils at the tomb of the unknown soldier in Westminster Abbey, and the national war memorials in Edinburgh Castle, Cardiff and Clandeboye in Northern Ireland, there will be overnight events at the Imperial War Museum in London. A major ceremony is being organised on 1 July by the British and French governments at the Thiepval memorial in France. It is expected to be attended by 10,000 people and will be screened live at many sites in France and the UK. The ceremony in northern France is only open to members of the public who have won tickets in a ballot, but it will be followed by daily ceremonies being organised by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and Royal British Legion until November 18 – the date the battle of the Somme ended, with almost no advantage gained by either side. The culture secretary, John Whittingdale, said: “We must never forget the scale of what happened at the Somme. More died on the first day of battle than any other day of the first world war. Almost every family in the country was touched by the devastating losses. I hope people of all generations up and down the country will have the chance to attend an event and honour the bravery of those who sacrificed so much.” Diane Lees, director of the Imperial War Museum, said the building would open its doors overnight on 30 June to 1 July to all who wished to join the event. “The IWM was originally established while the first world war was still being fought to remember those who lived, fought, died and survived in the conflict. A century later, we continue to do just that and encourage as many people as possible to join us.” |