The British Army suffered nearly 60,000 casualties on just the first day – July 1, 1916 – as they attempted to break through German lines in France.
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The work was partly inspired by tales of sightings during and after the First World War by people who believed they had seen a dead loved one.
Shot and screened in 1916, it was the first feature length documentary about war and changed the way both cinema and film was perceived by the public.
The 1,400 participants, who appeared in train stations, shopping centres, high street and car-parks, each represented an individual soldier killed at the Somme on 1 July, 1916.
At 8.28am Central European Time, thousands of people across Europe fell silent to commemorate the centenary of the start of the Battle of the Somme.
Queen Elizabeth II attended a service at Westminster Abbey on Thursday, the eve of the centenary of the Battle of the Somme, one of the deadliest chapters of World War I.
The Lost Gardens of Heligan joined forces with the Royal British Legion to commemorate the bloody four-month battle on the Western Front, which saw more than a million men killed or injured and 20,000 British soldiers dying on the first day alone. The British and French had gained 12km of ground.
Others at Friday’s event include Britain’s Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, his sons Prince William and Prince Harry and William’s wife Kate, Irish President Michael D. Higgins and former German President Horst Koehler.
Commuters, shoppers and tourists were greeted by the moving sight of the young characters who moved through crowds handing out cards carrying the name of a soldier who died in the first day of the battle. The gift you have given your country is treasured by every one of us this day.
It was to have been sung by the cathedral choir 100 years ago but it did not happen due to so numerous choir members going off to war.
Commenting on the British vote, Hollande told reporters the United Kingdom will “remain an ally and a partner of France”.
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Last month, Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel jointly commemorated the centenary of the Battle of Verdun, the longest battle of World War I. Both leaders praised their countries’ friendship in the aftermath of two world wars and the strengthening of their bonds through European Union cooperation.
