100 years since the first world war

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Names of missing soldiers are inscribed above the 1914 date on panels at Tyne Cot Commonwealth War Graves Commission Memorial, March 24, 2014.

Tyne Cot is the largest Commonwealth war cemetery in the world. There are 11,956 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated here.

A number of events will be held this year to commemorate the centenary of the start of World War One.

Bellicourt, France

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Headstones of the deceased at Bellicourt British cemetery, Feb. 5, 2014

Bony, France

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The Somme American Cemetery, March 28, 2014.

America entered World War One in April 1917.

Thiepval Wood, France

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Battlefield artifacts are collected as members of the Somme Association restore World War One trenches, March 27, 2014.

Thiepval Wood, France

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Battlefield artifacts are collected as members of the Somme Association restore World War One trenches, March 27, 2014.

Auchonvillers, France

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Guest house owner Avril Williams stands in a restored Somme Battlefield trench in the back garden of her guest house, March 27, 2014.

Longueval, France

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A cross sits in the last surviving tree from 1916 at The Delville Wood South Africa National Memorial, March 28, 2014.

The battle of Delville Wood during the Somme offensive of World War One, was the first major engagement of the South African 1st Infantry Brigade which suffered catastrophic casualties.

Saint Symphorien, Belgium

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Graves of soldiers of the Royal Middlesex Regiment make a circle at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery, March 24, 2014.

Longueval, France

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Remains of trenches and shell craters are visible in the grounds of The Delville Wood South Africa National Memorial, March 28, 2014.

The battle of Delville Wood during the Somme offensive of World War One, was the first major engagement of the South African 1st Infantry Brigade which suffered catastrophic casualties.

Thelus, France

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The Zivy Crater cemetery contains the graves of 53 First World War soldiers all of whom died in 1917 on the Vimy battlefield, March 26, 2014.

The cemetery is in the crater made from a mine explosion.

La Boisselle, France

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A cross stands on the edge of the Lochnagar Crater. The crater was made when a huge mine was detonated on the first day of the Somme offensive during World War One, March 28, 2014.

Loos-en-Gohelle, France

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Corporal Stuart Gillies of The 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland practices his bagpipes in Loos British Cemetery during a rehearsal for a re-burial ceremony, March 13, 2014.

Loos-en-Gohelle, France

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Soldiers of The 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland look at headstones as they rehearse for a re-burial ceremony in Loos British Cemetery, March 13, 2014.

Thiepval, France

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The setting sun is glimpsed through the central arch of the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, March 27, 2014.

Beaumont-Hamel, France

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The moon rises over the Newfoundland Memorial which commemorates the Newfoundland Regiment who on the first day of the Battle of the Somme suffered 80% casualties, March 12, 2014.