Mémorial britannique de Thiepval dit Memorial to the Missing

English translation

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History

The Franco-British memorial of Thiepval is dedicated to the Franco-British armies and British soldiers who went missing during the Battle of the Somme in 1916; it is surrounded by a military cemetery. Built from 1928 to 1932 on the initiative of the British government, designed by Edwin Lutyens, the brick and stone building has the form of a triumphal arch, itself formed by a set of arches supported by sixteen massive square pillars with four faces in Portland white stone, on which are engraved the names of British and South African soldiers who went missing on the battlefields of the Somme. The monument was inaugurated on 31 July 1932 in the presence of the Prince of Wales, the future Edward VIII, and President Albert Lebrun. Above the names are sculpted wreaths of laurels and engraved the names of the places of the Battle of the Somme. The central arch allows crossing through the monument and reaching the military cemetery situated behind. On the pediment is engraved the inscription: 'To the French and British armies, the grateful British Empire'

Description

Arch 45 m high intended to celebrate those who died in the land armies between July and November 1916. It was originally conceived as a response to the Arras memorial dedicated to the air forces.