EDM 1571: Anniversary of the Battle of the Somme

That this House commemorates the anniversary of the Battle of the Somme on 1 July 1916; notes that the first day of the Somme was the deadliest day in British military history, with 19,240 men killed; highlights that the Battle of the Somme was one of the most costly battles of the First World War, lasting nearly five months with hundreds of thousands injured; underlines the ongoing work of charities like the Royal British Legion, who go above and beyond to raise funds to support ex servicemen and women across the United Kingdom; thanks our soldiers for their sacrifice; and asks the Government to continue to ensure that the legacy of this occasion will never be forgotten.