Hawthorn Ridge Crater (Battle of the Somme, First World War)

Hawthorn Ridge Crater is a mine crater that was exploded during the First World War. This crater, located at the entrance to Beaumont-Hamel in Picardy, France, bears witness to the tragic events that unfolded on July 1, 1916, when British soldiers attacked German fortifications on the ridge. The mine exploded eight minutes too early, allowing the Germans to regain the upper hand and inflict heavy losses on the attackers. You can access the crater via a muddy path between two pastures, and admire the vegetation that has reclaimed the site. You can also learn about the history of the battle and the second explosion which took place on November 13, 1916. The crater is part of a wider network of memorials and cemeteries which commemorate the soldiers who fell on the Somme.