Pozières Memorial to the Missing, Somme Battlefields, France
The Pozières Memorial commemorates the names of 14,655 casualties of the United Kingdom and 300 of the South African Forces. These casualties died on the Somme battlefields from the dates of 21 March 1918 and 7 August 1918 inclusive.
The memorial comprises the magnificent gateway building with open colonnade walkways forming the eastern boundary walls to the right and left of the gate.
1918 Battles of the Somme
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The period of time covered by the Pozières Memorial is from the first day of the German Spring Offensive launched on 21st March 1918 to midnight on 7th August, the day before the Allied Forces launched the offensive against the German Army known as the Advance to Victory from 8th August 1918.
As a result of the German advance into Allied-held territory from 21 March the British Fifth Army was pushed back to the west across the ground that had been gained at such a high cost in Allied casualties by the end of the 1916 Battle of the Somme.
The Inscribed Names
97 panels are inscribed with the 14,655 names of the missing casualties. These panels are incorporated in the southern, western and northern boundary walls surrounding Pozières British Cemetery.
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Five Corps or Regiments are represented with the names of men numbering between 400 to 600 on this memorial:
- The Rifle Brigade: over 600 names
- The Durham Light Infantry: approximately 600 names
- The Machine Gun Corps: over 500 names
- The Manchester Regiment: approximately 500 names
- The Royal Horse and Royal Field Artillery: over 400 names.
Search for Names on the Pozières Memorial
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The panels are numbered consecutively from Panel 1 on the left (south) side of the boundary wall to Panel 97 on the right (north) side of the wall.
The Great Cross, also known as the Cross of Sacrifice, is located in the centre of the rear boundary wall (the western wall) and the panels of the commemorated missing casualties continue either side of the cross.
Search the online “Debt of Honour” Register held by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for names inscribed on the Pozières Memorial. Go to this link and look in the See Casualty Records button at:
Website: www.cwgc.org Pozières Memorial
Pozières British Cemetery
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Over 2,700 burials at Pozières British Cemetery are surrounded on three sides by the boundary wall incorporating the Pozières Memorial.
Design and Unveiling
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The Pozières Memorial and the Pozières British Cemetery were designed by W H Cowlishaw. The sculpture was by Laurence A Turner.
The memorial was unveiled by Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien on 4 August 1930.
Location of the Pozières Memorial
Latitude N 50° 2' 2" ; Longitude E 2° 42' 56"
The Pozières Memorial is located on the north side of the D929 Albert-Bapaume road just to the south of the village of Pozières.
Parking
There is a designated lay-by area at the entrance of the memorial and cemetery. Visitors are advised to take care when moving about parked vehicles as this is a main road used by lorries and cars at high speed.
Related Topics
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Cemeteries & Memorials on the Somme Battlefields
Cemeteries on the Somme Battlefields
Memorials on the Somme Battlefields
Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC)
For information about the work of the CWGC visit the website:
Website: www.cwgc.org
Acknowledgements
(CWGC) Plan of the Pozières Memorial and Pozières British Cemetery courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission