Somme 100: Newcastle Cathedral

At 7.28 a.m. on Friday the 1st July 2016 the sound of an explosion will be heard in the Cathedral Church of St Nicholas. This will mark a day of remembrance, commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the first day of the Battle of the Somme on the 1st July 1916, when on this day alone, 20,000 British Servicemen were killed and 40,000 were wounded or posted missing in action. Many of these came from the North East where thousands had volunteered for Kitcheners New Model Army and who you will find remembered on memorials everywhere. Throughout the day lessons, poems and the voices of those who took part will be read from the pulpit and the last post sounded on the hour, every hour. An exhibition of artefacts, photographs and memorabilia will be on display throughout the day in the Ca-thedral and members of the public will be able to light candles in memory of those who made the ulti-mate sacrifice in WW1mate WW1 At 7 p.m. a short Service and a Sunset Ceremony will be held in the main body of the Cathedral marking the end of the bloodiest day in the History of the British Army.