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Battle of the Somme centenary commemorations – live Battle of the Somme centenary commemorations – live
(35 minutes later)
7.54am BST
07:54
The Guardian published a leader on the centenary of the Battle of the Somme:
The Somme has gone down in British memory as a symbol of the human cost and futility of the first world war and, in some eyes, of all wars.
Read the full piece here
It’s extraordinary, given how long ago the campaign took place, that so much video footage exists of it, some featured below.
As well, you can see how the scenes from the Somme a century ago have changed with time, in this interactive:
Related: The Somme during the first world war and now – interactive
7.45am BST
07:45
Here’s a scene from a unique art project, laying 19,420 12-inch figures in shrouds alongside each other, to give a physical sense of the human devastation that took place 100 years ago today. Each figure is associated with the name of a soldier who fell the first day of the campaign.
19239 laid. 1 last one tomorrow, 100 years after they died at the Somme. Indescribable. Open 7am tomorrow morning pic.twitter.com/Na6ORbBYI0
They have been laid at the Northernhay Gardens in Exeter. The artist is Rob Heard.
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Already, casualties would have been aggressively mounting.Already, casualties would have been aggressively mounting.
A century ago now... the Pals generation like these men from Sheffield lay dead & wounded on the #Somme #Somme100 pic.twitter.com/XvyOtN1O6VA century ago now... the Pals generation like these men from Sheffield lay dead & wounded on the #Somme #Somme100 pic.twitter.com/XvyOtN1O6V
7.31am BST7.31am BST
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Big Ben has chimed and the whistle has been sounded, bringing the silence to an end.Big Ben has chimed and the whistle has been sounded, bringing the silence to an end.
A piper is playing by the tomb of the unknown soldier at Westminster Abbey, part of commemorations taking place across France, the UK and the commonwealth. A piper is playing by the tomb of the unknown soldier at Westminster Abbey, part of commemorations taking place across France, the UK and the Commonwealth.
A silent vigil has been taking place all night at Quedgeley War Memorial to commemorate the Battle of the Somme. pic.twitter.com/4Xm2KbGg6wA silent vigil has been taking place all night at Quedgeley War Memorial to commemorate the Battle of the Somme. pic.twitter.com/4Xm2KbGg6w
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7.28am BST7.28am BST
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The two-minute silence begins now.The two-minute silence begins now.
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We’re approaching 7.28am, when a two-minute silence will be held to commemorate the moment British and Commonwealth soldiers were ordered to go over the top, the beginning of a campaign that would claim about 1 million casualties over four months.We’re approaching 7.28am, when a two-minute silence will be held to commemorate the moment British and Commonwealth soldiers were ordered to go over the top, the beginning of a campaign that would claim about 1 million casualties over four months.
On the 1st day of the #Somme, British Army suffered 57,470 casualties, incldng 19,240 killed – heaviest casualty toll in a 24 hour period.On the 1st day of the #Somme, British Army suffered 57,470 casualties, incldng 19,240 killed – heaviest casualty toll in a 24 hour period.
Right this minute, a century ago, tens of thousands of soldiers would have been in their trenches, nervous, excited, awaiting the order to go.Right this minute, a century ago, tens of thousands of soldiers would have been in their trenches, nervous, excited, awaiting the order to go.
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Overnight, a vigil to commemorate the centenary of the Somme was held at Westminster Abbey.Overnight, a vigil to commemorate the centenary of the Somme was held at Westminster Abbey.
In France, at the Thiepval Memorial, members of the royal family on Thursday attended another vigil.In France, at the Thiepval Memorial, members of the royal family on Thursday attended another vigil.
More than 70,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers with no known grave are commemorated at Thiepval.More than 70,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers with no known grave are commemorated at Thiepval.
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The Battle of the Somme was expected to be a significant victory for the British and French against the Germans. However, carnage ensued on both sides – despite the frontline barely moving – in a battle that came to symbolise the horrors of trench warfare and the futility of the war. 19,240 British soldiers died on the first day, making it the bloodiest day in the history of the British army. Among the worst hit of British forces were the “Pals” battalions, volunteer units of limited fighting experience who 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 Battle of the Somme was expected to be a significant victory for the British and French against the Germans. However, carnage ensued on both sides – despite the frontline barely moving – in a battle that came to symbolise the horrors of trench warfare and the futility of the war. 19,240 British soldiers died on the first day, making it the bloodiest day in the history of the British army. Among the worst hit of British forces were the “Pals” battalions, volunteer units of limited fighting experience who 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.
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Nadia KhomamiNadia Khomami
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the the centenary of the Battle of the Somme, one of the defining events of the First World War. Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the the centenary of the Battle of the Somme, one of the defining events of the first world war.
The Battle of the Somme, fought along a 15-mile front near the River Somme in northern France, took place between July and November 1916. It was planned as the major Allied effort on the Western Front for that year, but a desperate battle between French and German forces at Verdun meant that the British army assumed the main role. The Battle of the Somme, fought along a 15-mile front near the river Somme in northern France, took place between July and November 1916. It was planned as the major Allied effort on the western front for that year, but a desperate battle between French and German forces at Verdun meant that the British army assumed the main role.
On this day in 1916, after an intense, week-long artillery bombardment of German positions, the infantry began their advance. Men from every part of Britain and across the empire took part.On this day in 1916, after an intense, week-long artillery bombardment of German positions, the infantry began their advance. Men from every part of Britain and across the empire took part.
By the end of the day some 57,000 Commonwealth and 2,000 French soldiers had become casualties – more than 19,000 of whom had been killed. By the time the offensive was halted in November, more than 1m soldiers from both sides had been wounded, captured, or killed. By the end of the day, 57,000 Commonwealth and 2,000 French soldiers had become casualties – more than 19,000 of whom had been killed. By the time the offensive was halted in November, more than 1 million soldiers from both sides had been wounded, captured, or killed.
Today’s commemorations will begin with a two-minute silence at 7.28am to mark the moment the first wave of soldiers went over the top. Whistles will be blown to mark the end of the two minute silence after the 7.30am chimes of Big Ben. Today’s commemorations will begin with a two-minute silence at 7.28am to mark the moment the first wave of soldiers went over the top. Whistles will be blown to mark the end of the two-minute silence after the 7.30am chimes of Big Ben.
At 11am a national commemorative event will be at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Thiepval Memorial in Northern France, where David Cameron, Francois Hollande and senior royals will pay tribute. The Thiepval Memorial is the largest Commonwealth war memorial in the world. It commemorates more than 72,000 men who died in the Somme sector between 1915 and March 1918, more than 90% of them during the 1916 battle. At 11am, a national commemorative event will be at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Thiepval Memorial in Northern France, where David Cameron, François Hollande and senior royals will pay tribute. The Thiepval Memorial is the largest Commonwealth war memorial in the world. It commemorates more than 72,000 men who died in the Somme sector between 1915 and March 1918, more than 90% of them during the 1916 battle.
At 3pm a remembrance service will be held at Manchester Cathedral. At 3pm, a remembrance service will be held at Manchester Cathedral. There will also be an evening concert at Manchester’s Heaton Park.
There will also be an evening concert at Manchester’s Heaton Park.
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