The awesome and inspirational Lochnagar Crater signalled the opening attack of the Battle of the Somme in 1916. With 75% casualties, it was the scene of unprecedented carnage on the bloodiest day in British military history. The massive explosion was, up until that time, the loudest man-made sound in history and remains to this day the largest crater ever made by man in anger.
In pre-Covid years it has had up to 250,000 visitors annually, many of them young people.
The Great War was truly global in its reach, with men of every race, colour, creed and religion volunteering to join the great armies of Europe, Africa and Asia, destined to serve, suffer and die, often thousands of miles from home.
Women paid a heavy price too, as well as the hardship brought by the loss of their menfolk, they served as nurses, factory workers and in jobs vacated everywhere by the men now gone to fight.
