Ticket details announced for 4th August Commemoration
Monday 23 June 2014
Details announced for public tickets release for UK & Commonwealth First World War Commemoration in Glasgow. Tickets for Glasgow's First World War UK and Commonwealth centenary commemoration will be released to the general public on Monday 7 July, 2014, it has been announced.
The event in Glasgow's George Square forms part of the UK Government's programme of events to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War
Tickets for the event, which will be on a first come basis, will be available to the public when a specially dedicated ticket line - 0141 287 7999 - opens at 9am on Monday 7 July. Some 4000 tickets will be available to the general public.
The Glasgow First World War commemorations at Glasgow Cathedral and George Square are the largest and the first of three national events to be held on the 4 August 2014. The events in Glasgow, Mons in Belgium, and Westminster Abbey, London form a key part of the UK Government's centenary programme.
The events in Glasgow will have a Commonwealth theme with Commonwealth leaders attending the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games which finishes on August 3, being invited to stay on in the city to attend.
Culture Secretary Sajid Javid said: "The First World War changed the world. It resulted in more than a million British and Commonwealth service men giving their lives, often thousands of miles away from home.
"It's right that we honour and remember the lives of the millions who served in and were affected by the war; and that we reflect on the broader significance of that era and the impact it has on our lives today.
"The events at Glasgow Cathedral and George Square will honour those from the Commonwealth and beyond. We will never forget their sacrifice."
The Lord Lieutenant, Glasgow's Lord Provost Sadie Docherty, will lead the landmark service remembering Britain's role in the war.
Lord Provost Sadie Docherty said: "Glasgow feels very honoured to play such a major role in Britain and the Commonwealth's commemoration of the centenary of the start of the First World War.
"It is very important that members of the public can attend the event in Glasgow's George Square to witness this important and poignant day of remembrance.
"We hope people from near and far and from across the Commonwealth will take up the opportunity to gain one of the 4000 public tickets and join with us on 4 August to remember those who fought and died in the war.
"We also hope that it will inspire everyone to investigate and learn about their own family First World War story to ensure that we remember these stories for generations to come."
On the 4 August there will be an invite-only service for up to 1400 guests at Glasgow Cathedral led by The Reverend Dr Laurence Whitley, Minister of the Cathedral, and will reflect the Commonwealth contribution to the war.
This will be followed by a wreath-laying service at the Cenotaph in George Square with representatives of the Commonwealth nations. HRH The Duke of Rothesay (as the Prince of Wales is known in Scotland) will attend. The Cathedral service will be shown live in George Square to the audience who have been successful in gaining a ticket for the event. Only those in possession of a numbered ticket will be able to gain access to George Square on the day.
Each household is limited to a maximum of four tickets for the George Square ceremony. The tickets will be allocated to the public on a first come basis.
Once all the 4000 public tickets have been allocated the lines will close and an automated message will let people know that they have not been successful.
If you get a ticket it will be up to individuals to make their own arrangements to get to Glasgow for the public wreath laying service in George Square.
Military groups and charities have been allocated tickets separately to the public release of tickets for the commemoration.
Details of road closures and other arrangements for the general public on Monday 4 August will be released by Glasgow City Council in the coming weeks.
The events in Glasgow, Mons in Belgium, and Westminster Abbey, London form a key part of the UK Government's centenary programme, and will take place across August 4, the 100th anniversary of the date war was declared.
The events
10am - Glasgow Cathedral Commonwealth-themed service and Cenotaph service in George Square
Organised by the UK Government in partnership with Glasgow City Council, the invitation-only service at Glasgow Cathedral is for up to 1400 people. Led by The Reverend Dr Laurence Whitley of Glasgow Cathedral it will reflect the Commonwealth contribution to the war and will be followed by a wreath-laying service at the Cenotaph in George Square attended by 4000 members of the public and entry will be tickets only. HRH The Duke of Rothesay (as the Prince of Wales is known in Scotland) will attend. The Cathedral service will be shown live in George Square.
7.30pm (UK) - Commemorative event at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission St Symphorien Military Cemetery in Mons, Belgium
This commemorative event for around 500 guests is organised in partnership with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and will be based around music, poetry and readings which reflect the unique history of this site, where those who met in war now meet in peace. The land for St Symphorien was given to the German army by a Belgian landowner on the condition that the cemetery provide a suitable resting place for the dead from both sides of the conflict and that all were buried with due respect. It contains the graves of the first British soldiers before the Armistice, along with Lieutenant Maurice James Dease, the first recipient of the Victoria Cross in the First World War. HRH The Duke of Cambridge, accompanied by HRH The Duchess of Cambridge, will attend this event with HRH Prince Henry of Wales. Mons City Council will screen the event live in Mons town square for members of the public wishing to be involved with the event.
10pm - Candlelit Vigil at Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey will be hosting a candlelit vigil and evening of prayer and reflection. This will include the gradual extinguishing of candles, with the final light on the tomb of the unknown warrior being extinguished at 11pm - the exact time that Britain joined the First World War. HRH The Duchess of Cornwall will attend this service.
Anglican churches around the UK will also be participating, along with other faith groups, to complement the event in London, including services at St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast and Llandaff Cathedral, Wales. The event at Westminster Abbey will be by invitation only.