Every year since 1979 Richard Dunning, the owner of the Lochnagar Crater (La Boiselle on the Somme), has held a ceremony on 1 July to remember all those who suffered as a result of the Great War. The first was a very simple affair with just six people attending. There were no seats, no visitors' book plinth and no cross.
Over the years the number of people attending has increased dramatically with, perhaps, up to 1,500 people attending. The number of people visiting throughout the year has also increased to an estimated 250,000. It is, of course good news that so many people are interested, but inevitably the site is damaged by so many footfalls.
Many will be aware that the original Cross erected in 1986, suffered from an early lightning strike and subsequently from wood rot. The Cross was blown over in August 2010 and shattered into many pieces. Through the efforts of many people, and with the generous help of our French friends, a new oak Cross was erected in time for the 1 July 2011 ceremony. The ceremony was very successful, with the new Cross being dedicated, and an estimated 800 people in attendance.
‘Hanging on the Old Barbed Wire', the Great war era song was beautifully sung by two young Leicestershire sisters and can be viewed below.
Their singing was much appreciated and was greeted with a round of applause when they had finished.
The theme of the ceremony was respect, remembrance and reconciliation. To highlight this a beautiful wood carving of three hands touching, was fixed to the Cross. A British hand, a French hand and a German hand, all now living side by side in peace and fraternity.
Another highlight came at the end of the ceremony. Everyone was asked to form a human circle around the Crater by holding hands. About 600 people did so, of many different nationalities, with strangers holding hands, and arms raised, a remarkable demonstration of fraternity.
The Lochnagar Crater is unique. It was once a place of terrible suffering. A place where many were killed and probably are still buried (the remains of George Nugent killed on July 1st 1916 were discovered in 1998). It is now a place of tranquillity in rolling, fertile farmland.
It is hoped that Lochnagar Crater can be preserved long into the future so that the generations to come might stand and look with awe into that giant cavity and marvel at how the amazing generation that fought the Great War managed to put up with the awful suffering that was imposed on them.
But with so many people visiting this place of pilgrimage, it is ‘wearing out' and, is in need of funding to carry out renovation of the path around the rim, and the wreath laying area in front of the Cross.
Article and images contributed by Clive Gilbert.
Editor's Note: Please see our article on Lochnagar Crater erosion.
If you feel you would like to help by contributing to the costs of the upkeep of Lochnagar Crater please send a cheque made out to ‘The Friends of Lochnagar', and send to Friends of Lochnagar (Renovation) Little Down, Hog's Back, Seale, Surrey, GU10 1HD. More information about the Crater can be found at www.lochnagarcrater.org. Thank you.
You can view a slideshow of some more of the images from the ceremony below. Click the expand icon to view full screen; press "Esc" to close and return.
You can find more information and history of the 1 July ceremony on http://www.lochnagarcrater.org/Ceremonies.html.
