Schools and Educational Visits

Students can access the Virtual Cemetery and create a symbolic link to one of the unknown soldiers who died on this battlefield. Another page entitled – July 1st 1916 – Attack on La Boisselle – video stories provides short commentaries outlining the battle and methods of attack.

The Foundation is grateful to Brendan Maitland who did the research and provided much of the material for this project.

• Please ensure that your group stay on the designated footpaths.
• Visitors are not allowed to descend into the Crater for obvious reasons of safety and to stop erosion.
• Please show respect for other groups/individuals that may be visiting at the same time.
• It is important that students visiting the Crater are aware that young men fought, suffered and died at the Crater and in the surrounding fields and they should respect the area and its environs accordingly.
• The Crater should be a place of quiet contemplation and reflection.

• We would suggest a visit time of around 45 minutes for school groups.
• Aim of visit – By the end of your visit you should have a clear understanding about the events that took place on this battlefield on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.

• Learn about the battle that took place at La Boisselle on July 1st  1916 (the worst day ever in British military history). This was the worst battlefield.
• Log on to the Virtual Cemetery and read the story of one of the Unknown soldiers who died at La Boisselle.
• Read six panels from the Labyrinth – three connected to July 1st 1916, three about other aspects of the war.
• Walk around the rim of the crater and read the points of reflection and take a moment to think about the information you have gained today.
• Understand that the Crater was originally blown to kill; it now serves a different purpose. What is its new purpose?

We hope that this Web site will meet the needs of students and staff and we wish all schools a successful and enjoyable visit to the Lochnagar Crater.

The Unknown Soldier – Click on a Battalion Regiment to enter the Virtual Cemetery. Include Northumberland Fusiliers, Northumberland Fusiliers, Royal Scots, Suffolk / Cambridge and Lincolnshire

This prestigious prize is generously funded, organised and judged by Mike and Frances Speakman, both dedicated and knowledgeable visitors to the battlefields and have consistently been enthusiastic supporters of young people who visit Lochnagar.

Attack on La Boisselle, July 1st 1916 – Choose a soldier from the virtual cemetery and follow his story through the battle. On the worst day ever in British military history, La Boisselle was the worst battlefield.