Commemoration of the 110th Anniversary of the Battle of the Somme

Calgary Salutes, in partnership with The Military Museums, invites the public to commemorate the 110th Anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.

The Battle of the Somme is a First World War battle honour shared by four military units that have called Calgary home: Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians), The Calgary Highlanders, and The King’s Own Calgary Regiment.

This lecture will explore how each unit participated in the 141-day battle, which ran from July 1 to November 18, 1916.

Admission is by a suggested minimum $10 donation to The Military Museums. Seating is limited, and advance registration is recommended.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. A reception with light snacks and a cash bar will be held before and after the presentation.

Mural of Honour Connection

The Military Museums’ Mural of Honour contains several panels that reference the Battle of the Somme. One particular panel, number 81, describes how the Canadian Corps, positioned in their slit trenches prior to the battles on the Somme, had literally lived in “muddy holes” for close to eighteen months. From December 1914 to early March 1918, the front barely moved more than a few miles.