Somme 2023 - Thiepval

Thiepval Memorial

The Thiepval Memorial bears the names 72,331 soldiers from Britain and South Africa who have no known grave.

Thiepval Memorial | CWGC

It commemorates those who died  in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918, of which over 90% of those were lost during the Somme Battles between July and November 1916. 

An inscription on the memorial records;

Here are recorded names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields July 1915 February 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.

At the top of the main archway, a French inscription reads: 

Aux armées Française et Britannique l'Empire Britannique reconnaissant                                                                                             To the French and British Armies, from the grateful British Empire

Thiepval Memorial Arch
Aux armées Française et Britannique l'Empire Britannique reconnaissant 

On the pillars of the memorial are sixteen stone wreaths roundels that record the Battles of the Somme and subsequent actions. One roundel records the offensive, Somme 1916, thirteen the Battles of the Somme; Albert, Bazentin Ridge, Delville Wood, High Wood, Pozières, Guillemont, Ginchy, Flers–Courcelette, Morval, Thiepval Ridge, Transloy Ridge,

Ancre Heights, Ancre. Two other roundels record actions in 1917, Bapaume, Miraumont.

Thiepval Memorial Roundel

In the central space of the memorial a Stone of Remembrance rests on a three-stepped platform.

Thiepval Stone of Remembrance

The memorial was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and was constructed between 1928 and 1932. 

Thiepval Memorial Plan

Thiepval Memorial Construction

It was unveiled on the 1st August 1932 by the Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII).

Thiepval Memorial  inauguration 1st August 1932

Thiepval Memorial  inauguration 1st August 1932

At the foot of the Thiepval Memorial is an Anglo-French Cemetery.

Thiepval Anglo-French Cemetery

Thiepval Anglo-French Cemetery | CWGC

The cemetery contains the bodies of French and British soldiers whose bodies were found between January 1931 and March 1932. The majority of those laid to rest were found on the Somme Battlefields, however others were concentrated from locations outwith the Somme.

There are 300 Commonwealth burials, of which 239 are unidentified, and 300 French Burials if which 253 are unidentified. 

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The Thiepval Visitor Centre and Museum adjacent to the Thiepval Memorial contains a 60 m long fresco which tells the story of the first day of the Battle of the Somme. 

The fresco commences with Field Marshall Douglas Haig in his chateau contemplating the forth coming offensive. It continues through the build up of troops and materiel moving into the Somme, the six day preliminary bombardment, to the final preparations in the trenches.

The drawing the shows the men going over the top, followed by the tragic events of the 1st July. The consequential casualties being treated and evacuated, and those lost being laid to rest. 

First Day of the Somme fresco Start

First Day of the Somme fresco End

First Day of the Somme fresco End

In preparation for the forthcoming offensive, a build up of artillery saw units being deployed to the Somme. They joined the thousands of troops and the materiel being prepared ready for the battle.

First Day of the Somme fresco
Holt tractor pulling 8 inch howitzer

As the preliminary bombardment commenced, troops moved towards the front line into the sector of the line to which the battalions were allocated. Heavy artillery targeted defences and strongpoints, the 18 pounders conducted wire cutting.

First Day of the Somme fresco
8 inch howitzer and 18 pounder guns
Preliminary bombardment near Albert

First Day of the Somme fresco
6 inch howitzer Preliminary bombardment

As the preliminary bombardment continued, troops moved into the trenches ready to go over the top.

First Day of the Somme fresco
6in howitzer Preliminary bombardment

At 06:25 1st July 1916, a final bombardment targeted the German front line for 65 minutes.

First Day of the Somme fresco
Final bombardment

At 07:30 the bombardments lifted from the front line to subsequent objectives and the along the 11 kilometre front thousands of men left their trenches and "went over the top".

First Day of the Somme fresco
07:30 1st July 1916

The preliminary bombardments of the British Artillery in many parts of the front had been ineffective. Counter battery fires had not silenced the German artillery, defences were not destroyed and wire not cut.

The consequences were devastating.

First Day of the Somme fresco
1st July 1916