Shrouds of the Somme to be displayed in Bristol

The Shrouds of the Somme, the iconic art installation that commemorates those soldiers who fell during the first day of the Battle of the Somme, is to be displayed at Bristol Cathedral this November.

Originally displayed in Exeter on July 1st to mark the centenary of the battle, the installation will be shown at Bristol Cathedral from November 11th to 18th. The plans to show it at another location come following hundreds of request to extend the exhibition.

Created by artist Rob Heard, the display features small figures wrapped in shrouds and laid in lines to show just how many men fell during the first day of one of the bloodiest battles in history. Every figure is hand wrapped and stitched, featuring a name of one of the fallen soldiers taken from a list sourced from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

According to Mr Heard, the display will take about a day to put into place ahead of the opening, even with the help of six Rifles. 

There are 19,240 individual figures showing just how devastating that first day of battle was. In total, 127,751 soldiers lost their lives during the 20-week battle.

The exhibition has been shortlisted for a Remember WWI award, the results of which will be announced on November 2nd. 

Donations from the exhibition are to be donated to the Bristol branch of the SSAFA to help support servicemen, veterans and their families. 

Commodore Jake Moores, chairman of the Shrouds of the Somme, said: "The exhibition was one of the most powerful Acts of Remembrance I have seen throughout my military career and subsequent time as president of the Royal British Legion for Devon.

"The raw emotion it produced in countless numbers of people, many of whom were in tears, some kneeling and praying and others stood rigidly to attention, was extremely moving.

"This exhibition touches the hearts of all those who are privileged to witness it."