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Battle of the Somme: Queen leads centenary remembrance events Battle of the Somme: Queen leads centenary remembrance events
(35 minutes later)
The Queen is leading events to mark 100 years since the Battle of the Somme which has begun with overnight vigils on Thursday night. The Queen is leading events to mark 100 years since the Battle of the Somme, as overnight vigils got under way on Thursday night.
Services are being held in Westminster Abbey in London, and in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, on the eve of the centenary of the World War One battle. Services have been held in Westminster Abbey in London and in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on the eve of the centenary of the World War One battle.
At 07:28 BST on Friday a two-minute silence will mark the battle's start on 1 July 1916, one of WW1's bloodiest.At 07:28 BST on Friday a two-minute silence will mark the battle's start on 1 July 1916, one of WW1's bloodiest.
It will be followed by events in the UK and near the battlefields in France.It will be followed by events in the UK and near the battlefields in France.
The Battle of the Somme, fought in northern France, lasted five months during which the British and French armies fought the Germans in a brutal battle of attrition on a 15-mile front.The Battle of the Somme, fought in northern France, lasted five months during which the British and French armies fought the Germans in a brutal battle of attrition on a 15-mile front.
In total, there were more than one million dead and wounded on all sides.In total, there were more than one million dead and wounded on all sides.
Live coverage: Battle of the Somme centenaryLive coverage: Battle of the Somme centenary
The Somme: The battle that France forgotThe Somme: The battle that France forgot
In pictures: Battle of the SommeIn pictures: Battle of the Somme
The Queen has been joined by the Duke of Edinburgh at the Westminster Abbey service. She laid a wreath of flowers on the Grave of the Unknown Warrior, where an overnight vigil will take place. The Queen was joined by the Duke of Edinburgh at the Westminster Abbey service. She laid a wreath of flowers on the Grave of the Unknown Warrior, where an overnight vigil is taking place.
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.
Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife Samantha and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn are among other figures at the service. 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 First World War soldiers faced.
'Pray for peace''Pray for peace'
The Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr John Hall, said: "The sacrifice of many thousands of lives in a battle which ultimately failed to achieve any serious breakthrough stands as a reminder of the suffering and loss involved in the First World War. Society must strive to reach an accord and reject "those who would stir up hatred and division," he 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." 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.
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 members of 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 members of 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.
On Friday, Prime Minister David Cameron, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry will attend services at the Thiepval Memorial, located close to the battlefields of the Somme, near Amiens in northern France. 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.
Some 70,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers with no known grave are commemorated at the memorial.Some 70,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers with no known grave are commemorated at the memorial.
Events on Friday include a climb to the top of the huge, newly renovated structure, which will be lit for the first time, to view the battlefield.Events on Friday include a climb to the top of the huge, newly renovated structure, which will be lit for the first time, to view the battlefield.
There will be a military vigil and a meeting with representatives of nations involved in the battle.There will be a military vigil and a meeting with representatives of nations involved in the battle.
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.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.
Pals battalionsPals battalions
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 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.Among the worst hit were the Pals battalions, volunteer units of limited fighting experience.
'Sacrifices remembered''Sacrifices remembered'
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.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.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.
Mr Cameron told MPs during Prime Minister's Questions it was "right that the whole country pauses to remember the sacrifices of all those who fought and lost their lives in that conflict".
World War One continued for another two years after the end of the Battle of the Somme.World War One continued for another two years after the end of the Battle of the Somme.