About Thiepval Memorial
The Thiepval Memorial is a Commonwealth memorial dedicated to over 72,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom and South Africa who died in the Somme region during World War One and have no known grave. Over 90% of those listed died in the devastating 1916 Battle of the Somme.
Consisting of a massive 45m-high arch resting on sixteen separate pillars, the Thiepval Memorial bears the names of all these missing soldiers.
Also at the Thiepval Memorial is a small cemetery containing the graves of both Commonwealth and French soldiers, signifying the fact that the Somme campaign was a joint operation between the allies.
There is a visitors centre alongside the Thiepval Memorial which contains more information about the history of the campaign and every year a major ceremony of commemoration is held at the Thiepval Memorial.
Related Places
The Somme 1916 Museum
The Somme 1916 Museum explores the realities of the First World War Battle of the Somme. Explore
Lochnagar Crater
The Lochnagar Crater is a large indentation in the earth in France where one of the explosions was set off which signalled the start of the Battle of the Somme. Explore