August 4, 2014 4.00 pm This story is over 114 months old

Lincoln World War I commemorative events

Wartime remembered: To commemorate 100 years since WW1, Lincoln is hosting a number of events to remember those in Lincolnshire who fell. Here’s a rundown of events.

To mark 100 years since the beginning of World War 1, the Great War, a number of events and memorials are planned around Lincoln — and residents are invited to each of them.

Here is a round up of everything happening in the city to allow residents to remember Lincolnshire’s fallen between 1914-18.


World War One Commemoration Service and parade

Where: The Guildhall and Stonebow on Lincoln High Street
When: August 4, 8.30pm

Residents are invited to watch the Mayor of Lincoln and Civic Party take part in the World War One Commemoration Service and parade, starting from the Guildhall on the High Street and ending with a vigil at St Mary le Wigford Church.

Timings for the parade are as follows:

  • The Civic Party will meet to the Guildhall at 8.30pm
  • The precession will move to the war memorial on Lincoln High Street at 8.45pm
  • At 9.30 the parade moves to St Mary Le Wigford church for a service
  • The Mayor of Lincoln and Civic Party will then light a candle at the Guildhall at 10pm

The Great War Remembered 1914-1918

Where: Museum of Lincolnshire Life
When: August 4, 2014 – January 3, 2015

A series of five autumn exhibitions will chronicle the First World War through the eyes of the people of Lincolnshire, beginning with the outbreak of war and the call to arms, plus showcasing a number of wartime items held at the museum.


Lights Out

Photo: The Lincolnite/ John Bennett

Photo: The Lincolnite/ John Bennett

Where: Lincoln Guildhall, Lincoln Castle
When: August 4, 10pm

As part of the national Lights Out event to reflect on the outbreak of war, all the lights in Lincoln Guildhall will be switched off and the Mayor of Lincoln will light a single candle in the central window of the Stonebow. He will blow out the candle at 11pm. Lincoln Castle and the Lincolnshire County Council HQ offices will also be taking part, alongside landmarks around the country such as Blackpool Illuminations, the Houses of Parliament and Tower Bridge.


Lincolnshire Remembrance online archives

The unveiling of the war memorial in St Benedict’s Square in Lincoln in November 1922.

The unveiling of the war memorial in St Benedict’s Square in Lincoln in November 1922.

Where: Lincs to the Past
When: From August 8

From August 8, Lincs to the Past will host a special online archive detailing around 22,000 names and 2,700 memorials in Lincolnshire from WW1. The searchable database and interactive map will contain detailed information of every casualty and memorial across the area, as part of the Lincolnshire Remembrance project, made possible by funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Armed Forces Community Covenant grant programme.


Tommies and Trenches

Where: Museum of Lincolnshire Life
When: September 13-14, 10am-4pm
Price: Free

Experience life in the trenches of World War 1 at the Museum of Lincolnshire Life. The museum remembers World War 1 with a major exhibition, a private collector’s display, and living history characters depicting life in the trenches and on the home front.


The Last Post

Where: Lincoln Drill Hall
When: November 12-15, 7pm. 2pm matinee on the 15th
Price: From £10

Held during Armistice Week, a community play by Lincoln Mystery Plays Community Theatre Company will recall the story of a local family torn apart by the war. The Last Post tells the story of Lincoln’s Beechey family, where five of the eight brothers fought died in the Great War and a sixth was crippled for life. It is through the 300 letters send back and forth from the frontline the story of the family can be told.


Special Memorials

As well as set events, a number of new memorials and permanent exhibitions have been set up, allowing residents and visitors to both reflect and commemorate soldiers.

Boultham Park Memorial Garden

Where: Boultham Park
Price: Free

Volunteers from local schools and businesses helped transform a small area of the city park into a memorial garden over the summer. The garden, designed specifically to honour the First World War, features seating, commemorative symbols of honour, loss and bravery and a variety of flowers, such as wood anemones, bluebells and wild roses. Plus drifts of deep red poppies in grass to replicate the first flush of growth after the soldiers left the fields of Flanders on November 11, 1918.


Book of Names

Where: Wren Library, Lincoln Cathedral
Price: Free

Two books containing the names of all Lincolnshire soldiers killed in the First World War are being held at Lincoln Cathedral. It’s the first time the 18,124 names have been listed in one public place. They are in the cathedral’s Wren Library, and can be requested to view.