Somme Battlefield WW1 Events
This page provides information about events related to the First World War taking place on and around the Somme battlefields.
Index of listed events:
- Remembrance Ceremonies
- 1 July 2025 Remembrance Ceremony, Lochnagar Crater
- 1 July 2025 Somme Service of Commemoration, Thiepval
- 1 July 2025 Ceremony of Remembrance, Ulster Tower Memorial
- 11 November 2024 Remembrance Day Parade, Thiepval Memorial
- 11 November 2024 Remembrance Ceremony - Armistice Day, Lochnagar Crater
- 13 November 2024 Ceremony to Commemorate 51st (Highland) Division, Beaumont-Hamel
- Son et Lumière (Sound & Light Show)
- Somme Tourism Official Websites: Events
Remembrance Ceremonies
1 July Remembrance Ceremony, Lochnagar Crater
1 July 2025 at 07.28 hours
Location: Lochnagar Crater Memorial, La Boisselle 80300
Free
An annual Ceremony of Remembrance takes place at the Lochnagar Crater Memorial starting at 7:28am, marking the exact time when the mine was blown on 1 July 1916.
Members of the public are welcome to attend the ceremony, but are advised that the narrow roads around the Lochnagar Crater Memorial can get busy for this early morning ceremony. It is recommended that vehicles are parked considerately in the area of the village of La Boisselle and that people walk to the memorial.
For information about this historic site and those who help to preserve it, and the forthcoming annual July ceremony visit the website for The Lochnagar Crater Foundation:
Website: www.lochnagarcrater.org
For the location and information about the Lochnagar Crater Memorial on the Somme battlefields go to:
Lochnagar Mine Crater MemorialPhotograph courtesy of The Lochnagar Crater Foundation
1 July Somme Service of Commemoration, Thiepval
1 July 2025, 12.00 hours (11:00 GMT)
Location: Thiepval Memorial to the Missing, Thiepval
Free.
Members of the public are very welcome to attend the ceremony.
All Royal British Legion and Service Associations' Standard Bearers are required to muster at the Thiepval Memorial at 10.00 hours. For enquiries about the parade and ceremony you may contact the RBL Somme Branch by email via the website link below:
Website: www.britishlegion.org.uk Branches / Somme
For information about the Thiepval Memorial and its location on the Somme battlefields see our page at:
Thiepval Memorial to the Missing1 July Ceremony of Remembrance, Ulster Tower Memorial
1 July 2025 (time to be announced)
Location: 36th (Ulster) Division, Ulster Tower Memorial, near Thiepval
Free
Members of the public are very welcome to attend the ceremony.
A ceremony will take place at the 36th (Ulster) Division Memorial to mark the anniversary of the launch of the Battle of the Somme on 1 July 1916. This is the location where the 36th (Ulster) Division took part in the battle.
Enquiries can be addressed to the Somme Association:
Website: www.sommeassociation.org
For the location of the Ulster Tower memorial on the Somme battlefields go to:
36th Division Ulster Memorial Tower11 November Remembrance Day Parade, Thiepval Memorial to the Missing
11 November 2024 at 10.40 hours
Location: Thiepval Memorial to the Missing
Free
Members of the public are very welcome to attend.
The 11 November annual Remembrance Day parade is organized by the Royal British Legion Somme Branch.
For enquiries about the event see the RBL Somme Branch events page at:
Website: branches.britishlegion.org.uk/branches/somme/remembrance
Remembrance Ceremony - Armistice Day, Lochnagar Crater
11 November 2024 at 12.00 hours
Location: Lochnagar Crater Memorial, La Boisselle 80300
Free
A Ceremony of Remembrance will take place at the Lochnagar Crater Memorial.
Members of the public are welcome to attend the ceremony, but are advised that the narrow roads around the Lochnagar Crater Memorial can get busy. It is recommended that vehicles are parked considerately in the area of the village of La Boisselle and that people walk to the memorial.
For information about this historic site and those who help to preserve it, the annual July ceremony and more visit the website for The Lochnagar Crater Foundation:
Website: www.lochnagarcrater.org
For the location and information about the Lochnagar Crater Memorial on the Somme battlefields go to:
Lochnagar Mine Crater MemorialCeremony to Commemorate 51st (Highland) Division
13 November 2024 at 10.30 hours
51st (Highland) Division Flagstaff Memorial, Beaumont Hamel
Free
A short ceremony will be held at the 51st (Highland) Division flagstaff in the centre of Beaumont Hamel. The ceremony is held at the flagstaff each year to mark the centenary of the capture of Beaumont Hamel village by the division on 13 November 1916.
Anyone who would like further details can contact:
Email: [email protected]
For the location of the Flagstaff memorial in the cente of Beaumont Hamel see our page (memorial number 22) at:
Son et Lumière (Sound & Light Show)
Amiens Cathedral: “Son et Lumière” La Cathédral en Couleurs Light Show
The tourist board is open during the annual summer “Son et Lumière” light show at the cathedral. The light show lasts for 45 minutes and is on from June to September inclusive and 1 December to 1 January. The cathedral website lists the sound and light show under the term “polychromie son et lumière”. (Check with the cathedral's website in case of any updates before you travel to see the show.)
Website: www.cathedrale-amiens.images-en-somme.fr Polychromie sur la cathédrale d'Amiens
Somme Tourism Official Websites: Events
Two official Somme websites in French and in English by the Conseil général de la Somme (Somme tourisme) include information about a variety of events in the region of the Somme battlefields. There is also information about visiting the battlefields for individuals, groups and students, and the Circuit du Souvenir route of battlefield sites.
Website: French www.somme-tourisme.com/la-grande-guerre
Website: English www.visit-somme.com/great-war
Related Topic
Visiting the Somme Battlefields
For information about visiting the Somme battlefields in France see our page at: