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Remembering every man who
fell on the 1st day of the Battle of the Somme
MORE than 230 soldiers from The King's
Liverpool Regiment are to be individually remembered in an unique and historic
centenary art project to commemorate the fallen of the Battle of the Somme. The
19240 Shrouds of the Somme aims to commemorate all 19,240 allied soldiers who
fell on the first day of the battle which began on 1 July 1916.
Exactly 100 years to the day later, at the same time as the whistle was blown
to:- "go over the top", 19,240 hand stitched shrouded figures
representing every soldier will be revealed laid out in Exeter's Northernhay
Gardens. The names of the fallen have been marked by the artist Rob Heard who
has 7 volumes of the War Graves Commission's lists of those who died. As each
shroud is completed he reads the soldier's name out loud and symbolically
crosses them off the list. The King's Liverpool Regiment lost 235 men on the 1st
day of the Battle of the Somme.
The team behind the project are now appealing for volunteers to help on the day.
Group Captain Robin Chambers, representing the Armed Forces charity SSAFA who
will benefit from the project, said:- "SSAFA was there in 1916 to
support the families of those who fell at the Somme and, since 1885 has
supported all service personnel and their families. The 19240 Shrouds of the
Somme Exhibition is another way in which we can show that we are here to help.
The exhibition captures the brutality and emotional impact of service life and,
as an all volunteer charity we are honoured to be asked to supervise the
exhibition and assist the public. As the exhibition will be very popular, we are
recruiting volunteers for 1 July to 7 July, to assist us in interacting with the
public, reading the names of the fallen and selling the shrouds."
Anyone who would like to volunteer to help can apply
online.
The team behind the project also see this as an opportunity to create a lasting
legacy commemorating those who fell and are asking for the public to upload
photos, stories, memories and any further information on individuals to build up
a picture of them to commemorate them.
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