The Battle of the Somme (also known as the Somme Offensive), took place during the First World War between 1 July and 18 November 1916 in the Somme area of France, on both banks of the river of the same name.
The Lochnagar Crater was formed at 7.28am on Saturday, 1st July 1916 - the first day of the Battle of the Somme. It was created by the detonation of a huge mine placed beneath the German front lines, exactly 2 minutes before the battle commenced.
It was blown along with 16 others as a two-minute precursor to the start of the offensive. (Note: One mine, the Hawthorne, was blown at 7.20am).
The Worcester Regiment took the area around the crater two days later on 3 July.
