General Chat

Prince Charles will lead the tributes to the 20,000 soldiers who died on the British Army's bloodiest day. He will join veterans and the families of the British and Empire troops who fell on the battlefields of the Somme on 1 July, 90 years ago. At 0730 local time, whistles are being blown in Thiepval, northern France, to signal the start of the attack - just as they were in 1916. Over one million people died during the five-day battle which followed. Germany, France, Australia, Canada, Ireland and New Zealand also suffered appalling losses during the campaign. As well as formal commemorations at Thiepval, smaller gatherings will be held along the 18-mile stretch of the front. Thousands of men were sent 'over the top' in an attempt to break the stalemate with the Germans after 18 months of trench warfare. After a service which will include a fly-past by two WWI planes, the prince will visit war graves. The Princess Royal, who is Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, will attend a Canadian ceremony at Beaumont Hamel on the Somme. The Newfoundland Regiment sent 22 officers and around 758 other ranks over the top on 1 July - all the officers and around 658 other ranks died. Meanwhile, the Duke of Gloucester, who is honorary president of the Somme Association, will be at 'Ulster Tower', the oldest official memorial on the western front dedicated to the 36 (Ulster) Division and other Irish soldiers. In Ireland itself, the Irish government is to commemorate the Irish soldiers who fought and died with the British at the Somme, for the first time, with a ceremony in Islandbridge. Some 70,000 Irishmen died during WWI Commemorations will also be held around the UK, including wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Westminster Abbey.

Ernest Henry Hewitt died 15 Jun 1915 Holt Montgomery Hewitt died 1 Jul 1916 William Arthur Hewitt died 1 Jul 1916 In memory and with love. William

My Grandad missed that because he was in the Royal Navy.......I am interested in both world wars, and this particular battle was sheer carnage.......poor boys......bless them all.......x

So many lives lost ,on both sides,i was lucky ,i got my wonderful grandad back after fighting in belgium and france all through that war, as a coldstream guard , he was wounded and sent home in the last [big push]. He lived to see two of his sons die in the second war ,and was never the same after that.Fred.

I'm so glad I studied poetry and literature from the Great War at school and at college - it does give you an insight into how some of them felt even though it was so many years before I was born. My grandmother's brother was killed at Ypres and it could still make her cry over eighty years later. I'm lucky enough to have two letters he wrote her when he was in France. It was so moving to see Henry Allingham at the war graves on the news.

Such a terrible loss of lives. They should never be forgotten. R.I.P Jill

May they rest in peace. C x

Gone...but never forgotten! RIP Nanna x

Remembering my Great Uncle Oscar who died on October 21, 1916 and is buried in Contay British Cemetery on the Somme. R.I.P.

We will be eternally grateful to those wonderful men and boys. God rest their souls xxxxxxxxxxxxx

In memory of Harry Grover SCOTT, Corporal L/11610 2nd Btn. Royal Fusiliers, died 1 July 1916. Remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.

In Memory of Private E MERRY 18301, 5th Bn., Royal Berkshire Regiment who died on 03 July 1916 Remembered with honour OVILLERS MILITARY CEMETERY I would love to have know you xxx