One hundred years ago today, the Battle of the Somme began. Remembered as one of the bloodiest battles in human history, the battle has become a symbol of the futility of modern industrialised warfare. By the end of the battle, in November 1918, both sides had suffered more than one million casualties. The Battle of the Somme will also be remembered for the importance of air power and for the first use of the tank. The British forces present were a real mix of the regular army (that which had existed pre-war), the Territorial Force and Kitchener’s Army, famous for its Pals battalions. There will be a number of events across Europe to mark the Battle of the Somme. A UK national memorial will be held at Thiepval today and in this country, a national vigil will be held at Westminster Abbey. The government has also joined forces with the Royal British Legion to encourage local communities to organise their own vigils. To help more of your students have the opportunity to visit the battlefields, and bring World War I to life for them during the centenary, we’ve been running a very special offer. We’ll be running this offer for all WW1 battlefield trips taking place between now and the end of 2018. However, as you can imagine,
Need any information or advice on WW1 battlefield tours? Or just have a question about a future school trip? Please don't hesitate to contact us.