Lynelle Howson (CWGC) – The 110th Anniversary of the Battle of the Somme

"It's really wonderful to be able to turn headstones that say, 'Known unto God' into named people that we now know are in those graves."This week, we speak with Lynelle Howson, a historian for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC). As we mark the 110th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme this July, we explore the incredible operations of an organization that maintains the graves and memorials of over 1.7 million service members across more than 150 countries. Lynelle shares the heartbreaking legacy of the pals battalions, the profound poetry behind the personal headstone inscriptions, and the ongoing, modern forensic recovery efforts keeping the memories of the fallen alive over a century later.In this episode:- Uncover the tragic reality of the pals battalions, where entire communities of friends, coworkers, and neighbours enlisted together, inadvertently dealing concentrated, devastating losses to individual towns back home- Learn about the forensic recovery and rededication process, which coordinates historical research and documentary evidence to give named headstones to soldiers previously listed on memorials to the missing- Discover the architectural landscape of the Somme, from the massive Thiepval Memorial standing sentinel over the battlefields to hidden, intimate cemeteries like Quarry Cemetery