To have tears in my eyes at this?

[parmalilac]

Just seen in the news photos of the Somme soldiers at railway stations etc today, silently handing out cards with names of the fallen. What a wonderful way to to remind us of that terrible tragedy, and well done to whoever organised it.

sorry confused... somme soldiers or soldiers?

I can't imagine anyone saying 'Yes, you're BU'.

The whole thing is very sad and very moving.

i watched something with pictures from then last night. very sad to see all these men and knowing what horror followed.

There surely can't be any survivors of this left alive? So very sad

Sorry I didn't explain it very well - young men dressed as soldiers from WW1 paying tribute to the fallen. Saw it mentioned on FB and clicked through - www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/brits-moved-tears-walking-ghosts-8323603

20,000 dead in a single day.
40,000 wounded.

oh yes op that is very moving..what a great idea

Yes, it is terribly sad. The scale of death is unimaginable - a whole generation of young men wiped out. A lot of the young women lost fathers, brothers, loved ones and then had no prospect of marriage and family. Yet these bloody wars still go on.

My dad was a bitter quarrelsome man who went through WWII - at his funeral we had the song, 'Where have all the flowers gone?' which was his favourite - an anti-war song which sort of sums it up.

I saw them at Waterloo Station this morning. Incredibly moving, especially when they started to sing.

I think the former soldiers speaking about the Battle of the Somme this morning on the radio was one of the most moving things I have heard in years. These men were recorded in the early 1960s and they were all in the battle. Tears welled up as I listened to them. This is real history and tells us why the Great War should never be forgotten or the men that served and died in it. Horror does not do it justice. Listen if you can. It is a very important archive held by the BBC and the Imperial War Museum.

Watching the service on. BBC 1

Just before prince Charles spoke there was the most moving poem

DH saw them at Waterloo station this morning. Incredibly powerful and a wonderful idea.

Wonderful BBC coverage from Thiepval, very moving.

It is on the front page of our local paper. There were two pals regiments that went from the local town. All the churches in the area are having commemorative ceremonies, and there is an event happening at the town hall.

We never learn.

YANBU

As I stopped to watch and listen, a guy pushed past me, yelling EXCUSE ME! because I was in his way. I hope he catches up with all the reports and news about this and gives himself a little slap.

Abide with me

So simple. How are they all dry eyed in Thiepval

Our local BBC news is remember the 282 men of the region who lost their lives in the battle today by tweeting a name every two minutes.

It is a loss of life on a scale that is hard to imagine today.

Had a similar thing a few years back when they dropped poppy petals (one for each person killed in the World Wars) over London. The Hungerford foot bridge was covered with them and I kept seeing them for ages afterwards.

Very poignant.

Also worth reading Ken Follett's Century Trilogy to give a tiny snapshot of what went on in that time and the impact on communities back home.

Oh this is very well done.

They sing the WWI ditty "We're here because we're here because we're here" - and otherwise do not speak. But hand out a memorial card for the soldier they are representing.

They are the dead. And they are here. Because.

My son is one of the actors involved. He is 16. I am so proud of him.

It is a such a beautiful and moving tribute to those who lost their lives.

#wearehere

These things always leave me in tears. The Remembrance Day silence does it to me every year. The waste of all that potential with all those young lives lost. Truly awful.

Saw them in Plymouth earlier on. I looked for the thread. Very distressing image and I can't help thinking we are heading back toward this

My grandfather was there at the First Day of the Somme. He was 16.