On Thursday night (30 June), the eve of the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of the Somme, Westminster Abbey began commemorations to those who lost their lives during the largest battle of the First World War.
The Battle of the Somme, often referred to as the Somme Offensive, saw around 20,000 British troops lose their lives during the first day of British and French troops engaging with the German Empire. Overall, the battle claimed around 1.25 million casualties and deaths between 1 July and 18 November 1916, making it one of the bloodiest battles in history.
The Abbey Choir rehearse after Lance Sergeant Stuart Laing from the Welsh Guards rehearsed the Last Post on a bugle that was sounded at the Battle of the Somme at Westminster AbbeyJack Taylor/ Getty Images
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip attended the poignant vigil, with Prince William, Kate Middleton and Prince Harry attending services in Thiepval, France. The Queen laid a wreath of roses on the grave of the Unknown Warrior, which was illuminated inside the abbey. A bugler then sounded the Last Post, a tribute to the fallen. An honour guard of soldiers and civilians held an overnight vigil at the grave. Prime Minister David Cameron and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn were also present for the service.
Despite Britain's vote to leave the EU, French President Francois Hollande and David Cameron seized the occasion to stress their First World War alliance and show their attachment to the ideas underpinning European unity.
"In many ways, there is a link between the current events we're discussing and what happened 100 years ago. It's the importance of keeping peace and security and stability on our continent," Cameron told members of Parliament on 29 June. "We're going to be standing together and remembering the sacrifices all those years ago."
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Queen Elizabeth II arrive to attend a Service on the Eve of the Centenary of the Battle of the Somme at Westminster Abbey on 30 June Niklas Halle'nLance Sergeant Stuart Laing from the Welsh Guards rehearses the Last Post on a bugle that was sounded at the Battle of the Somme at Westminster AbbeyJack Taylor/GettyA member of the military stands at the grave of the Unknown Soldier during a vigil to commemorate the centenary of the Battle of the Somme at Westminster Abbey in LondonJack Taylor/Getty
Britain held a two-minute silence on the morning of Friday (1 July), exactly 100 years since the battle began, to commemorate the lives that were lost. Westminster Abbey held a second memorial service that morning, in which British military personnel paid their respects. Guns were fired from Parliament Square, marking the end of the Somme vigils in London.
The main ceremony will begin at noon on 1 July at the Memorial of Thiepval in France, which was built in 1932 by the British government. It is dedicated to the 73,367 British and South African soldiers missing in the Somme area during the war.
Civilian and military personnel stand in silence by the tomb of the Unknown Warrior at a service on the eve of The Battle of the Somme at Westminster AbbeyDylan Martinez/ReutersBritish Military personnel LBdr Walsh, LCpl Drury, LCpl Kinmond, Cpl Wolfe and Sgt Cohoon stand at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior during a vigil to commemorate the centenary of the Battle of the Somme at Westminster Abbey in LondonJack Taylor/GettyA member of the military lays a wreath made of roses and bay leaves on the Grave of the Unknown Warrior on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II (second-left) and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (left) at a Service on the Eve of the Centenary of the Battle of the Somme at Westminster AbbeyNiklas Halle'nBritish Prime Minister David Cameron and wife Samantha attend a Service on the Eve of the Centenary of the Battle of the Somme at Westminster AbbeyNiklas Halle'nQueen Elizabeth II lays a wreath made of roses and bay leaves on the Grave of the Unknown Warrior at a Service on the Eve of the Centenary of the Battle of the Somme at Westminster AbbeyNiklas Halle'nCivilian and military personnel stand in silence by the tomb of the Unknown Warrior at a service on the eve of The Battle of the Somme at Westminster AbbeyDylan Martinez/ReutersA member of the public lights a candle during a vigil to commemorate the centenary of the Battle of the Somme at Westminster Abbey in LondonJack Taylor/GettySamantha Cameron and David Cameron attend Service on the eve of the centenary of the Battle of The Somme at Westminster AbbeyEamonn M McCormack/GettyQueen Elizabeth and Prince Philip leave a service on the eve of The Battle of the Somme at Westminster AbbeyDylan Martinez/ReutersJeremy Corbyn leaves a service on the eve of The Battle of the Somme, at Westminster AbbeyDylan Martinez/ReutersBritish Military personnel LBdr Walsh, LCpl Drury, LCpl Kinmond, Cpl Wolfe and Sgt Cohoon stand at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior during a vigil to commemorate the centenary of the Battle of the Somme at Westminster Abbey in LondonJack Taylor/GettyQueen Elizabeth II leaves a service on the eve of The Battle of the Somme at Westminster AbbeyDylan Martinez/ReutersThe Battle of the Somme vigil in London comes to a close with the firing of guns from Parliament SquareAndrew Linnett/MOD Crown
