Amiens100
Marking the centenary of the Battle of Amiens and the Subsequent Hundred Days Offensive
©IWM
The Battle of Amiens is one of the important events being marked in 2018 as part of the First World War centenary commemorations.
The Battle of Amiens took place on 8 August 1918, involving British, Australian, Canadian, French, and US forces. The subsequent Hundred Days Offensive, was a four month period of Allied advances, resulting in the signing of the Armistice on 11th November.
Commemorations in France
To mark this important centenary, there will be a commemorative event in Amiens Cathedral in Amiens, France, at 15:00 local time on Wednesday 8 August 2018. The event is being led by the UK Government in partnership with the Governments of Australia, Canada, France and the United States of America.
The ballot
The public ballot for tickets to attend the event has now closed and no further applications can be made. Those who entered the ballot will be informed of the outcome of their application by 9 May. You can find here the of the ballot.
Successful applicants will be sent regular updates with more information about the event. Tickets to print at home will be sent by e-mail ahead of the event.
Anyone who is not successful in the ballot will be placed on a waiting list, and notified should any tickets be returned. While we don’t expect a significant number of returns, we will reallocate any on a rolling basis, so that those on the waiting list are able to make travel plans as early as possible.
You can also find some information in the here.
Information about tickets
- Tickets will be allocated in pairs by a random ballot
- Tickets will be free and will be sent to successful applicants before the event with detailed instructions about attending the event
- Please notify the organisers immediately, should you no longer require your tickets, so that they can be reallocated.
Somme Battlefields - There is lots to do in the city of Amiens and in the surrounding region. Visit this website www.somme-battlefields.com for more information about planning a trip to the Somme Battlefields, including where to stay and what to do.
Getting there
Amiens is in the Picardy region of Northern France with excellent rail links to Lille and Paris. There are many hotels in and around the city, should you wish to extend your stay and visit the many cemeteries and memorials or enjoy the other attractions of the region. Alternatively the timing of the event also enables you to travel to and from the event in one day.
There are numerous ways to travel to France, including by Eurostar, ferry and plane.
For more information on how to travel you can check the following websites:
Eurostar - Please note that there is no dedicated Eurostar service for this event.
Local Trains - France is well connected by train and there are direct trains running between Paris and Amiens.
Air- Albert-Picardy is the nearest airport to Amiens. Airports in Paris are also within easy reach.
Tour Operators- You might also wish to contact tour operators who are active in the region and who may be able to organise your travel and accommodation for you - searching online should bring up a number of suitable operators.
You should check the Foreign and Commonwealth website regularly for information about travelling to France.
Got a question?
Questions about the ballot and the event itself can be sent to amiens2018@culture.gov.uk.
You can also read our
Descendant stories
Do you have a personal connection to the Battle of Amiens or to the Hundred Days Offensive?
We are keen to hear from relatives of those who served in France. Please e-mail amiens2018@culture.gov.uk to share your stories, or enter the ballot for tickets, where there is a chance to include your story with your application.
Discover your history
Use these websites to find out more about those who served at the Battle of Amiens and in the subsequent 100 days of fighting, and discover your own family connections:
IWM’s digital memorial to all those who served in the First World War for Britain and the Commonwealth. Discover more about the men and women who took part in the Battle, and find out about your own First World War ancestry.
The Royal British Legion in partnership with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission aims to commemorate over 1 million Commonwealth Servicemen and women killed during the First World War. Create a dedication to one of them, place a poppy in their memory and search for a relative or someone from your local area to commemorate.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The casualty database lists the names and place of commemoration of the 1.7 million men and women of the Commonwealth forces who died during the two world wars.
You can also search the National Archives‘ First World War programme and discover personal histories in its vast archives.
Last updated 16 April 2018 + show all updates
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The ballot has now closed
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The ballot deadline has been extended to give more people the opportunity to apply.
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First published.