THERE are a number of Somme commemoration events taking place around the county and in Birmingham over the next few weeks.
These include a screening by the Imperial War Museum of the film The Battle of the Somme.
Shot and screened in 1916, it was the first feature length documentary about war and changed the way both cinema and film were perceived by the public. I
n the year of it’s release around 20 million people, almost half of the population of Britain at the time, watched it.
You can see it with Bishampton History Society at St James’ Church, Church Lane, Bishampton, Worcestershire, WR10 2FA on September 10, 2016.
Entry is free and there’s also an opportunity to see Bishampton’s experiences of World War 1, including a map showing where soldiers lived, and a make-believe trench where children can experience what warfare was like.
A further screening will take place at Blakesley Hall, Blakesley Road Yardley, Birmingham, B25 8RN on September 11, October 16 and November 13. It too is free.
In addition there is a lecture on the La Boiselle and Beaumont Hamel battles of the Somme at St Richards Hospice Foundation, Wildwood Drive, Worcester, WR5 2QT on October 5, while Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum, Foregate Street, Worcester, WR1 1DT has an exhibition on the Worcestershire Regiment at the Battle of the Somme which runs until November 1, 2016.
For more details on all of the above, visit http://www.1914.org/somme/ .
