Memorial de Thiepval
About
The Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, situated in the village of Thiepval in northern France, stands as the world’s largest Commonwealth memorial to the missing. Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and completed between 1928 and 1932, the monument rises 43 m (140 ft) high and is composed of 16 towering stone piers, a triumphal arch and a central stone of remembrance. The open British side bears the names of 73 337 missing officers and soldiers who fell on the Somme before 20 March 1918, while the French side commemorates the joint contribution of the allied forces. The memorial is flanked by the Thiepval Anglo‑French Cemetery, containing equal numbers of Commonwealth and French graves, and is visited by thousands of people each year for ceremonies, including the annual 1 July remembrance service and the 11 November commemoration at 10:45 CET. Access is free; it is open to the public throughout the year, with a visitor’s centre opened in 2004 offering additional information and exhibitions. Across its sweeping stone facades visitors encounter rich architectural detail: the interlocking arches, the stone of remembrance, and the carefully carved inscription “The Missing” subtitled by 16 stone roundels depicting key battles of the Somme. A statue of the Angel of the Trench proclaims the memorial as a place of remembrance and hope.
Highlights
- Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens
- Anglo‑French Cemetery
- Stone of Remembrance