Remembering those who Fought in the Battle of the Somme

Ceremonies will be taking place across Cardiff and the Vale from 30 June to honour those who fought in the largest battle of World War One.

The Battle of the Somme was one of the bloodiest conflicts of World War One. For more than four months the British and French armies engaged the Germans in a brutal battle of attrition on a 15-mile front.

There were more than one million people dead and wounded on all sides, including 420,000 British casualties, about 200,000 from France and an estimated 465,000 from Germany.

Wounded Welsh soldiers injured during the conflict were brought into Cardiff by train, where they disembarked at Grangetown Station and were then admitted to Cardiff Royal Infirmary for their treatment.

The Battle of the Somme was immortalised by official war artists, poets, and soldiers’ sketches.

Margaret Lindsay Williams was rejected when she volunteered to become an official war artist because she was a woman. Margaret painted Care of Wounded Soldiers at the Cardiff Royal Infirmary (CRI) in 1916.

The ward at CRI, depicted in the painting was later named the Mametz Ward.

The painting, which is normally exhibited in Sandhurst Barracks, is currently on loan, forming part of an exhibition ‘War’s Hell!’ The Battle of Mametz Wood in Art
at the National Museum Cardiff until 4 September 2016.

In memory of those who lost their lives and were injured during the Battle, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board will be holding two minutes silence at 7:28am on 1 July and their flying flags at half mast.

There will be an an overnight vigil to honour those who fought bravely in the largest battle of the First World War at Llandaff Cathedral on 30 June from 9pm to 4.30am. Members of the public are welcome to attend the event which will involve a 30 minute changeover of military and an hourly prayer or reflection.

For more information on the commemoration events taking place please visit http://www.walesremembers.org/