About
Thiepval war memorial is reputed to be the largest Commonwealth war memorial in the world.
Standing alone in the French countryside, its central arch rises 140 feet high and rests on 16 massive pillars. The memorial bears the names of more than 72,000 men who died in the Somme sector and have no know grave.
Over 90 percent of those commemorated, mostly officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces, were killed between July and November 1916 during the Battle of the Somme.
Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, the memorial was built between 1928 and 1932 using 10 million bricks. It was unveiled the same year by the Prince of Wales, Edward, in the presence of the French president, Albert Lebrun.
Each year, a major ceremony is held on July 1 to mark the anniversary of the first day of the battle of the Somme.
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Know Before You Go
To get to the memorial, follow Rue de Ancre from Thiepval village.
Visiting the memorial is free. The nearby museum dedicated to the history of the Battles of the Somme has an entry fee.
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Published
November 20, 2025
