The Commonwealth and the Somme

The Battle of the Somme involved troops from thoughout the Commonwealth.

This talk and display - run in collaboration with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission - will focus on the contributions of these troops to the 141-day Somme Offensive, as told through the original records in our collection.

You will also hear about the history and work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which has helped to preserve the memory of Commonwealth troops for the past 100 years.

Our collection of First World War records is one of the largest in the world. It includes, amongst many other documents, service records, letters, diaries, maps and photographs.

During the centenary, we are opening up this collection and hosting a variety of events and exhibitions, engaging in key debates and topics from the war.