Remembrance Assembly 2026

This assembly offers a powerful and moving way to mark Remembrance Day in 2026, linking directly to the 110th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme and an incredible discovery made over a century after the fighting ended.

The assembly begins by exploring the Battle of the Somme and the different ways fallen soldiers are remembered, including named graves, unidentified graves and the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing, which commemorates over 72,000 British and South African soldiers who died on the Somme and have no known grave.

Students are then introduced to the personal stories of three soldiers who fought in the battle, bringing the events of 1916 to life. The assembly builds towards the remarkable story of Private Percy Tolliday, who was originally commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial but whose remains were eventually identified through DNA testing. On 21 October 2026, Percy was finally laid to rest with full military honours at Warlencourt British Cemetery, 110 years after his death.

This assembly provides a fantastic opportunity to show students that remembrance is not simply about remembering the distant past – it remains relevant today. With recent discoveries, real personal stories and important historical anniversaries, it encourages students to reflect on the individuals behind the statistics and understand why we must continue to remember those who sacrificed their lives.

This resource also has a teacher dialogue sheet to give extra information about the assembly.