The Memorial is a massive arched structure, with large laurel wreaths carved on top of the pillars and towards the top of the memorial. At the time of the unveiling in 1932 there were 73,357 names were commemorated here; the slight decrease to todays number (72,116) represents the identification of bodies since then resulting in soldiers no longer being 'missing'. Some additional names have however also been added (omissions in the original list of commemorations).
Click on the title of this post for more interesting facts on this memorial.
The largest British mine crater on the Western Front, this was one of several mines exploded under the German front line positions on the Somme on 1st July 1916. A charge of 60,000 lbs (26.8 tons) of Ammonal explosive was blown at 7.28am resulting in a crater 90 feet deep and 300 feet across. Lochnagar Crater, named after the trench from where the main tunnel was started.
