The Battle of the Somme

casualties, and thousands of deaths, and their dying comrades haunted

survivors for decades to come, due to their haunting images of

explosions, and gas attacks.

Despite this the British allies forced a general retreat

ordered by general Molkte, but the reatreat was quickly stopped, the

German allies dug trenches and turned to face the British allies,

forcing a stalemate, and attrition. All hopes of a quick victory

vanished.

Back in Britain, patriotism boomed due to immense propaganda

and it was soon a social imperative, to join up. Another boom in our

numbers was due to the ingenious idea of pals battalions was

introduced. Men from one business, one company or even one street

could join up together and all get sent to the same place, fight

together and most likely die together.

These battalions were not fully equipped, until possibly a

few weeks before being shipped to the front, and many pals could be

seen training in the shabby Sunday suits they joined in, using an

umbrella as a weapon.

Finally the British advance started, with a

week-long artillery bombardment consisting of nearly 1.5 million

shells, which failed disastrously to either destroy the oppositions

wire defences of harm the defending troops in their deep dugout

trenches.

The offensive was launched in bright sunlight on July 1^st .

this was also a misadventure on nearly all sections of the front.

Troops were forced to march over the top as they were on exercises,

and were blown up, by opposing shells, killed by gas, or murdered by

rapid machine gun fire.

Later on the introduction of the tank would clear lines for advancing

troops use but only 9 returned from the somme.

Despite a surprise attack by the cavalry, sheer weight of

numbers was the winning factor of the war, but the cost was great and

awful.