Somme Centenary
Somme Centenary
The Somme Centenary comprised a specially commissioned artwork and commemorative event outside Barnsley's Town Hall
On 1st July 1916, over 300 men from Barnsley were killed in the opening minutes of the first day of the Battle of the Somme. Recruited from the town at the same time, the men came from the same streets and families - one of the many so-called 'Pals' regiments.
On 1st July 2016, an event was held in front of Barnsley Town Hall to commemorate these men and the centenary of this battle. This included the unveiling of a specially commissioned artwork - Light Lines by artists Musson and Retallick. This temporary artwork was installed in the Town Hall gardens, flanking the town's cenotaph. It remained in place until November 2016 - reflecting the actual duration of the Battle of the Somme. It was subsequently re-installed in a permanent location in Barnsley's Peace Garden. These 3 videos present both the event and the artwork.
