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Battle of the Somme: Centenary remembrance events held Battle of the Somme: Royals at Somme centenary commemoration
(about 1 hour later)
Commemorations are being held in the UK and France to mark the centenary of the start of the Battle of the Somme. Thousands of people, including members of the Royal Family, are at a ceremony in France to mark the centenary of the start of the Battle of the Somme.
The nation fell silent to mark the moment on 1 July 1916 when the battle began and the start of the bloodiest day in British military history. The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry are at the Thiepval Memorial for the event.
A ceremony at the Lochnagar crater on the battlefield was held and on Thursday night the Queen attended a vigil at Westminster Abbey. It follows a nationwide two-minute silence that marked the moment on 1 July 1916 when the battle began.
More than a million men were killed and wounded on all sides in the WW1 battle.More than a million men were killed and wounded on all sides in the WW1 battle.
The Battle of the Somme, one of World War One's bloodiest, was fought in northern France and lasted five months, with the British suffering almost 60,000 casualties on the first day alone.The Battle of the Somme, one of World War One's bloodiest, was fought in northern France and lasted five months, with the British suffering almost 60,000 casualties on the first day alone.
At a vigil in France, the Duke of Cambridge paid tribute to the fallen soldiers, saying "we lost the flower of a generation". At a vigil in France on Thursday, the Duke of Cambridge paid tribute to the fallen soldiers, saying "we lost the flower of a generation".
The British and French armies fought the Germans in a brutal battle of attrition on a 15-mile front.The British and French armies fought the Germans in a brutal battle of attrition on a 15-mile front.
At the ceremony at the Lochnagar crater, which was created by an explosion at the start of the battle in La Boiselle, France, a rocket was fired to simulate the artillery fire. Commemorations are being held in the UK and France to mark the centenary of the start of the Battle of the Somme.
At an early-morning ceremony at the Lochnagar crater, which was created by an explosion at the start of the battle in La Boiselle, France, a rocket was fired to simulate the artillery fire.
This was followed by whistles to symbolise those that were blown 100 years ago as men scrambled from the trenches.This was followed by whistles to symbolise those that were blown 100 years ago as men scrambled from the trenches.
Ahead of the two-minute silence in the UK, the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery fired guns from Parliament Square for 100 seconds to mark the 100 years since the battle began.Ahead of the two-minute silence in the UK, the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery fired guns from Parliament Square for 100 seconds to mark the 100 years since the battle began.
The nation then fell silent to mark the moment on 1 July 1916 when the battle began and the start of the bloodiest day in British military history.
Across the country and at the vigil sites at Westminster Abbey, Edinburgh Castle, the Somme Heritage Centre in County Down, the Welsh National War Memorial in Cardiff, as well as in France, the silence was observed.Across the country and at the vigil sites at Westminster Abbey, Edinburgh Castle, the Somme Heritage Centre in County Down, the Welsh National War Memorial in Cardiff, as well as in France, the silence was observed.
In FranceIn France
By Robert Hall, BBC News correspondentBy Robert Hall, BBC News correspondent
Across the rolling Somme landscape, the whistles shrilled again; a century ago they sent tens of thousands out of their trenches, and across No Man's Land.Across the rolling Somme landscape, the whistles shrilled again; a century ago they sent tens of thousands out of their trenches, and across No Man's Land.
Today they were sounded on the lip of the Lochnagar crater, 300ft wide and 70 deep, the result of a British attempt to breach German defences.Today they were sounded on the lip of the Lochnagar crater, 300ft wide and 70 deep, the result of a British attempt to breach German defences.
Sixty thousand pounds of explosive sent debris 4,000ft into the air; no-one knows how many were killed.Sixty thousand pounds of explosive sent debris 4,000ft into the air; no-one knows how many were killed.
At the cross of remembrance, a carpet of wreaths was laid, by representatives from Britain, France and Germany, along with families and local children.At the cross of remembrance, a carpet of wreaths was laid, by representatives from Britain, France and Germany, along with families and local children.
In the base of the crater, beside a giant poppy, a lone bugler sounded the last post as clouds of poppies fluttered down on the breeze.In the base of the crater, beside a giant poppy, a lone bugler sounded the last post as clouds of poppies fluttered down on the breeze.
Later, there will be another ceremony at the Thiepval memorial, near the battlefield in northern France, attended by 10,000 people including the Prince of Wales and Prince Harry and hundreds of descendants of the those who fought in the battle. Later, leaders from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland will attend a service at the Ulster Tower, a memorial to the men of the 36th (Ulster) Division in Thiepval, at 13:30 BST.
Leaders from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland will attend a service at the Ulster Tower, a memorial to the men of the 36th (Ulster) Division in Thiepval, at 13:30 BST.
At the preserved trenches at Newfoundland Park Memorial in Beaumont-Hamel, France, there will be a ceremony to mark the Canadians' part in the battle at 15:30 BST.At the preserved trenches at Newfoundland Park Memorial in Beaumont-Hamel, France, there will be a ceremony to mark the Canadians' part in the battle at 15:30 BST.
And the 100th anniversary will be marked by Germany in Fricourt, France, where 40,000 Germans are buried.And the 100th anniversary will be marked by Germany in Fricourt, France, where 40,000 Germans are buried.
In Manchester, there will be a national service of commemoration at the cathedral from 15:00 BST and a concert at 19:30.In Manchester, there will be a national service of commemoration at the cathedral from 15:00 BST and a concert at 19:30.
At the Westminster Abbey service on Thursday, the Queen was joined by the Duke of Edinburgh as she laid flowers at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior.At the Westminster Abbey service on Thursday, the Queen was joined by the Duke of Edinburgh as she laid flowers at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior.
The tomb holds an unidentified British soldier killed on a European battlefield, brought back and buried in the abbey to honour the unknown dead of the war.The tomb holds an unidentified British soldier killed on a European battlefield, brought back and buried in the abbey to honour the unknown dead of the war.
The Bishop of London, the Right Reverend Dr Richard Chartres, said the legacy should be that people worked towards reconciliation to ensure children never endured what the soldiers of World War One faced.The Bishop of London, the Right Reverend Dr Richard Chartres, said the legacy should be that people worked towards reconciliation to ensure children never endured what the soldiers of World War One faced.
Society must strive to reach an accord and reject "those who would stir up hatred and division," he said.Society must strive to reach an accord and reject "those who would stir up hatred and division," he said.
Prime Minister David Cameron, who also spoke at the service, his wife Samantha, and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn were among other figures at the service.Prime Minister David Cameron, who also spoke at the service, his wife Samantha, and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn were among other figures at the service.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry paid their respects in France, attending a vigil at the Thiepval Memorial, located close to the battlefields of the Somme, near Amiens in the north of the country. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry paid their respects in France, attending a vigil at the Thiepval Memorial on Thursday evening, located close to the battlefields of the Somme, near Amiens in the north of the country.
Prince William spoke of European governments "including our own" who failed to "prevent the catastrophe of world war".Prince William spoke of European governments "including our own" who failed to "prevent the catastrophe of world war".
"We lost the flower of a generation; and in the years to come it sometimes seemed that with them a sense of vital optimism had disappeared forever from British life," he said."We lost the flower of a generation; and in the years to come it sometimes seemed that with them a sense of vital optimism had disappeared forever from British life," he said.
"It was in many ways the saddest day in the long story of our nation.""It was in many ways the saddest day in the long story of our nation."
Prince Harry also spoke at the event, reading the poem Before Action, by Lieutenant WN Hodgson of the 9th Battalion the Devonshire Regiment, who wrote it before he was killed in action on 1 July 1916.Prince Harry also spoke at the event, reading the poem Before Action, by Lieutenant WN Hodgson of the 9th Battalion the Devonshire Regiment, who wrote it before he was killed in action on 1 July 1916.
Before the vigil, the three royals climbed to the top of the huge, newly renovated monument designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens to view the battlefield.Before the vigil, the three royals climbed to the top of the huge, newly renovated monument designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens to view the battlefield.
The memorial bears the names of more than 70,000 British and South African soldiers who have no known grave.The memorial bears the names of more than 70,000 British and South African soldiers who have no known grave.
Earlier, the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr John Hall, said: "As we imagine the feelings of those preparing for battle, the vigil will allow us to reflect on the cruel effects of warfare and to pray for lasting peace and justice in the world."
Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones joined personnel from the Army, Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force for the start of a vigil at Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff.Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones joined personnel from the Army, Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force for the start of a vigil at Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff.
"Those who fought bravely for our futures should never be forgotten," he said."Those who fought bravely for our futures should never be forgotten," he said.
In Scotland, an overnight vigil was held at the National War Memorial.In Scotland, an overnight vigil was held at the National War Memorial.
A whistle, which was sounded to lead men over the top, was blown by Scots soldier Alan Hamilton at 07:30 BST to mark, to the minute, 100 years since the battle began. The whistle belonged to his great uncle.A whistle, which was sounded to lead men over the top, was blown by Scots soldier Alan Hamilton at 07:30 BST to mark, to the minute, 100 years since the battle began. The whistle belonged to his great uncle.
And in Northern Ireland, a vigil was held at the Somme Museum near Newtownards, County Down. A guard of honour, including serving soldiers, was present throughout the night.And in Northern Ireland, a vigil was held at the Somme Museum near Newtownards, County Down. A guard of honour, including serving soldiers, was present throughout the night.
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, and 10,000 members of the public chosen by ballot - including hundreds of schoolchildren - will also attend a service of commemoration on Friday. The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall will also attend ceremonies for Northern Irish and Canadian victims of the battle at the nearby Ulster Tower and Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial, respectively.
The royal couple will then attend ceremonies for Northern Irish and Canadian victims of the battle at the nearby Ulster Tower and Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial, respectively.
The Duchess of Cornwall will lay a wreath at the grave of her great-uncle, Captain Harry Cubitt, who was killed on the Somme in September 1916 while serving with the Coldstream Guards.The Duchess of Cornwall will lay a wreath at the grave of her great-uncle, Captain Harry Cubitt, who was killed on the Somme in September 1916 while serving with the Coldstream Guards.
He was the eldest, and the first, of three brothers to die serving on the Western Front.He was the eldest, and the first, of three brothers to die serving on the Western Front.
The Battle of the SommeThe Battle of the Somme
Find out more:Find out more:
The Battle of the Somme was intended to achieve a decisive victory for the British and French against Germany's forces.The Battle of the Somme was intended to achieve a decisive victory for the British and French against Germany's forces.
The British army was forced to play a larger than intended role after the German attack on the French at Verdun in February 1916.The British army was forced to play a larger than intended role after the German attack on the French at Verdun in February 1916.
Among the worst hit were the "Pals" battalions, volunteer units of limited fighting experience.
Many were told to walk slowly across no man's land, resulting in massive numbers of dead as they headed straight into German machine-gun fire.
The 2,000 men of the 1st and 2nd Bradford Pals, both part of the West Yorkshire Regiment, suffered 1,770 casualties in the first hour of the offensive as they attacked the heavily fortified village of Serre.
World War One finally ended in November 1918.World War One finally ended in November 1918.