Battle of the Somme centenary marked in Ireland, Britain and France
President Higgins among dignitaries in France who commemorated the event
President Michael D Higgins joins dignitaries from France and Britain at a commemoration event to mark the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme. Video: Reuters
Fri Jul 01 2016 - 16:10
Soldiers, politicians, royalty and ordinary citizens stood in silence, heads bowed, on Friday in ceremonies across Ireland, Britain and France to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the start of the Battle of the Somme, one of the bloodiest battles in history.
The devastating first World War clash began on July 1st, 1916, along a 24 km (15-mile) front near the River Somme in northern France, where British and French forces hoped to win a decisive victory against Germany.
Around 20,000 British soldiers died on the first day alone to capture just a few square miles of territory.
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British and French school children caught in a rain shower during the Commemoration of the Centenary of the Battle of the Somme at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Thiepval Memorial in Thiepval, France. Photograph: Yui Mok/PA Wire
Left to right: Prince Harry, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge during the Commemoration of the Centenary of the Battle of the Somme at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Thiepval Memorial on July 1, 2016 in Thiepval, France. Photograph: Steve Parsons/Getty Images
Actors dressed in first World War army fatigues walk silently in the streets near Waterloo Station, to commemorate the start of the Battle of The Somme, in London on July 1st. Photograph: Peter Nicholls/Reuters
Left to right: The Prince of Wales stands in the background as President Michael D Higgins (front), Sir Tim Laurence, former German President Horst Kohler and Prime Minister David Cameron, lay wreaths, during the Commemoration of the Centenary of the Battle of the Somme at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Thiepval Memorial in Thiepval, France. Photograph: Yui Mok/PA Wire
Serviceman watch footage of soldiers from the battle of the Somme during the Commemoration of the Centenary of the Battle of the Somme at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Thiepval Memorial in Thiepval, France, where 70,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers with no known grave are commemorated. Photograph: Chris Radburn/PA
British horse guards stand guard as they take part in the memorial ceremony on July 1st, 2016 at the Thiepval Memorial, in Thiepval, during which Britain and France will mark the 100 years since soldiers emerged from their trenches to begin one of the bloodiest battles of World War I (WWI) at the River Somme. Photograph: Stephane de Sakutinstephane/Getty Images
British and French school children caught in a rain shower during the Commemoration of the Centenary of the Battle of the Somme at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Thiepval Memorial in Thiepval, France. Photograph: Yui Mok/PA
French president Francois Hollande, David Cameron, British Prime Minister and Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge walk during the ceremony to mark the centenary of the Battle of the Somme at the Thiepval monument. Photograph: Thibault Vandermersh/EPA
A soldier talks with some French veterans during the Commemoration of the Centenary of the Battle of the Somme at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Thiepval Memorial on July 1st, 2016 in Thiepval, France. Photograph: Andrew Matthews - Pool/Getty Images
Commemoration in Islandbridge. Photograph: Patrick Hugh Lynch
Commemoration in Islandbridge. Photograph: Patrick Hugh Lynch
By the end of the battle in November more than one million men had perished and the allies had advanced just 11 km (seven miles ).
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France
At the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing in France, President Michael D Higgins joined members of the British royal family, prime minister David Cameron and French president Francois Hollande for a special service of remembrance.
Mr Hollande and the UK’s Prince Charles led the senior politicians and royals in laying wreaths at the Cross of Sacrifice, looking out onto the former battlefield.
Writing in the programme for the commemoration, Prince Charles wrote that “their sacrifice and suffering will never be forgotten”.
He added: “It is truly terrifying to imagine the destruction wrought across this landscape 100 years ago today. However, we now return to the battlefield in a spirit of reconciliation and respect.
“We honour the men who served from across Britain and Ireland, the Commonwealth and from France.
“We remember, too, the men from Germany who fought and fell in this most futile of conflicts.”
Dublin
In Dublin, a ceremony to commemorate the centenary took place in the National War Memorial Gardens in Islandbridge on Friday morning and was attended by members of the Defence Forces and the Royal British Legion.
The 36th Ulster Division Flag and the 16th Irish Division Flag were piped in at 7.30am, signifying the start time of the Battle of the Somme 100 years ago.
Britain
In Britain, the anniversary was marked with a gun salute in London as well as services elsewhere, including Cardiff and Edinburgh. A two-minute silence was also held across the country.
Silent actors dressed as British soldiers from the first World War appeared in public squares, standing expressionless and representing soldiers killed in the Battle of the Somme.
At London’s Waterloo train station, the actors handed out cards bearing the name, age, rank and military unit of the slain soldier they represented.
