Art / battle of the somme
Bristol Cathedral hosts Shrouds of the Somme
Shrouds of the Somme, an installation commemorating soldiers who fell on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, will be shown in Bristol in November after captivating visitors in Exeter where it was first exhibited.
After hundreds of requests to extend the exhibition, organisers are bringing the display to the grounds of Bristol Cathedral, where it will be on show from November 11-18, marking the centenary of one of the bloodiest battles in history and remembering all 127,751 British soldiers who lost their lives.
The display was created by Somerset artist Rob Heard, who has created a figure to mark each of the 19,240 British soldiers who fell on the first day of the Somme – the worst day in British military history.
Rob wrapped and bound each figure in a hand-stitched shroud, crossing off the name of every soldier who fell on that first day from a list sourced from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
“The Shrouds, along with the Poppies at the Tower, are perhaps the most memorable WWI commemorations this country has ever seen,” said project manager Mel Bradley.
“The public response to the shrouds from around the world has far exceeded all expectations. The visitors’ book from Exeter features hundreds and hundreds of emotional remarks from people trying to express the impact the Shrouds has had on them.
“This is reflected on our Facebook page with thousands of comments and video clip views of more than 10 million. It had a huge impact on the City of Exeter and has the potential to be even bigger in Bristol. The personal and community impact cannot be overestimated.”
Commodore Jake Moores, chairman of the Shrouds of the Somme, added: “The exhibition was one of the most powerful Acts of Remembrance I have seen throughout my military career and subsequent time as president of the Royal British Legion for Devon.
“The raw emotion it produced in countless numbers of people, many of whom were in tears, some kneeling and praying and others stood rigidly to attention, was extremely moving.
“Without doubt this exhibition touches the hearts of all those privileged to witness it.”
Donations from the exhibition, which will be opened on Armistice Day, will be donated to Forces charity SSAFA, specifically to their Bristol branch supporting servicemen, veterans and their families in the Bristol area in times of need.
The shrouds will be laid out outside Bristol Cathedral on Thursday, November 10 from 10am-6pm, and will remain in place until Friday, November 18.
For more information, visit www.thesomme19240.co.uk
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