Early November 2025 volunteers of the Lochnagar Plaque Team fitted 41 Commemorative Plaques onto the walkway around the Crater. Of these, 31 were new Commemorative Plaques, sponsored by kind donations from all over the world. The commemorated veterans served in a wide range of Regiments and Battalions, among one Australian... read more →
Nov
07
Oct
06
While we are striving to preserve the Crater, we try to think of wildlife too. After all, the site of the Crater and the surrounding terrain is an oasis and a safe haven for birds, butterflies, insects. small animals and wildflowers among the farmers’ fields. We started a few years... read more →
Sep
02
The Somme weather takes its toll on our Memorials. After a long period of adorning our site, the Nurses' Bench showed such wear and tear that replacing it was inevitable. The new bench that takes it place will keep the memory of these brave women alive and provide visitors an... read more →
Aug
11
George Heron, a founding member of the Friends of Lochnagar, passed away on 23 March 2025 aged 86. He died in hospital with his beloved wife Pat at his side following a short illness. He was a big man with a big heart and a personality and character to match.... read more →
Jul
12
July 1st 2025 was a hot, sunny day. Just like that fateful July 1st 109 years ago. But this time, there was no massive explosion and when the whistles sounded, there were no men climbing out of their trenches and over their parapets to venture into No Man's Land. Today,... read more →
Jul
10
In the past few months good progress has been made on the renovation of the walkway around the crater. With just 30 meters to go, we may say we are now entering the final stage of the renovation. If the weather holds up, the renovation will be completed well before... read more →
Oct
21
Time for another note from the Plaque Team. With only a few new sponsorship requests in the winter months following the ceremony in November 2023, we decided to forego our usual trip to install plaques in the Spring. However, we are delighted to report that new sponsorship requests soon gathered... read more →
Oct
21
We were approached last summer by Dick Forsythe from the WW1 Aviation Heritage Trust who told us about an interesting project they were trying to bring to France. Collaborating with writers and inviting schoolchildren to write poems on paper impregnated with poppy, cornflower and forget-me-not seeds in remembrance of the... read more →
Mar
13
The Working Weekend this year falls on the late May Bank Holiday, from Friday, May 24th to Monday, May 27th. As we say every year, all are welcome, and whether you wrestle with brambles or chat with visitors, everyone who comes along has an equal part to play in the... read more →
Mar
13
Anyone who has been at the Lochnagar Crater on July 1st will know of our deep appreciation and friendship with the Somme Battlefield Pipe Band. For many years, they have been a mainstay of our ceremony, with the lone piper often walking ghostlike out of the mist at the beginning,... read more →

