2024 Somme Battlefields Events
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Remembrance isCommemorationsevery day
©Philippe Sergeant

2024 Calendar

  • 25000 visitors
  • 1stJuly : first day of the battle
  • 6ceremonies

The ceremonies

in the Somme

Over twenty different nations fought in the Somme during the five years of war. One hundred years later, we remember these men at many international ceremonies held throughout the year.

From the ANZAC Day ceremonies held on and around the 25th April at the Australian National Memorial in Villers-Bretonneux and the New Zealand memorials in Longueval, to the services of remembrance held at the local war memorials of every village of the Somme on 11th November, visitors are encouraged to join the local residents and help keep the memory alive.

Remembrance is Everyday.
Lest we forget

anzac_day_2018.jpg
Villers Bretonneux Anzac Day, Somme©ADRT80-Céline François
Beaumont Hamel 1er juillet, Somme©Philippe Sergeant
Longueval Anzac day, Somme©New Zealand Embassy
Lanternes, 1er juillet, Somme©DR
La Boisselle-1er juillet©ADRT80©ADRT80

ANZAC DAY

April 25

ANZAC, the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, was formed during the First World War. These troops saw their baptism of fire in Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. They were then sent to the Western Front from 1916 where they fought with extreme courage and determination, especially in Villers-Bretonneux, when they helped stop the German Spring Offensive on 25 April 1918, three years to the day after Gallipoli.

Each year on the 25 April, Australians and New Zealanders commemorate Anzac Day in remembrance of their servicemen and women who have served in various wars and peace keeping missions. 

A poignant Anzac Day Service is held every year at the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux. This year in 2022, the ceremony will be held at 5.30am. Along with the Anzac Day Service, a week of festivities will take place in Villers-Bretonneux : sportive events, concerts, walks of remembrance...

Others ceremonies in the Somme

July 1 : Ceremonies of the Battle of the Somme (La Boisselle, Contalmaison, Thiepval, Beaumont-Hamel, Fricourt)

July : Ceremony at the South African Memorial, Longueval.
Delville Wood is well known in South African military history; it represents the national symbol for bravery and sacrifice as it was here that the 1st South African Infantry Brigade accomplished one of the finest feats of arms of the First World War in July 1916.

November 11 : Ceremonies of the WW1 Armistice

Intense emotion during the commemorations of the centenary of the Battle of the Somme in 2016.
Thiepval 1er juillet, Somme©Philippe Sergeant
La Boisselle 1er juillet, Somme©Peter Edwards
Croix du Souvenir, Somme©Nicolas Bryant
lochnagar_crater_1st_july_2018.jpg

Battle of the Somme commemorative ceremonies and events

The 1st July marks the beginning of the Battle of the Somme, one of the deadliest battles of the First World War. It is now a poignant date for commemoration in the Somme.

Every year, thousands of visitors gather here in remembrance of the men who fought and died during the battle of 1916. Come and be a part of this memorable day charged with emotion.

29 june 2024

  • 7.30pm at Albert : Bagpipes of the Leaning Virgin

30 june 2024

  • 11am at Contalmaison (Bell's Redoubt) : Tribute to soldier Bell
  • 5pm at Bus-Les-Artois : Commemoration at the war memorial and british memorials
  • 7.30pm at Albert : Bagpipes of the Leaning Virgin

1st july 2024

  • 7.10am at Sunken Lane, Beaumont-Hamel
  • 7.28am at Lochnagar Crater, La Boisselle. A Nieuport 17 (Great War aircraft) will fly over the crater and drop poems written by British schoolchildren on paper impregnated with the seeds of symbolic flowers
  • 7.45am at Hawthorn Ridge Crater, Beaumont-Hamel
  • 9.15am at Contalmaison's Cairn
  • 10.30am at Thiepval Memorial
  • 2.30pm at Ulster Tower
  • 4pm at Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial
  • 4.30pm at Monument to the 16th Irish Division, Guillemont
  • 5pm at Fricourt German Cemetery
  • 6.15pm in front of Albert Town Hall, departure of the procession

2nd july 2024

Exceptional opening of the Chapelle du Souvenir Français.

6 july 2024

  • 10am at the Longueval South African Memorial
  • 10.30am at Le Hamel memorial : concert by a brass band and bagpipes to commemorate the Battle of Le Hamel

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Memorial britannique de Thiepval première guerre mondiale-bataille de la sommeACarrier

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