The Somme : 1/7/16

[dandydan]

The famous saying Lions led by donkeys my Grandad survived the First War signed up walking from Vauxhall rd area to Warrington by foot under age to join to join the The Royal Lancashire Fuselieirs he started after training in the deserts v the Turks - thank goodness he avoided the Somme - he died at the age of 64 in a old peoples home with his chest being affected by the gas in the trenches - he only told my older brother a few tales of his action as I was just a small kid who went to see him every Sunday!
I always collect his regiment badges, and my older brother has his medals to pass down to the eldest son in the family - I have researched his war record which to my dismay believe it or not if you came back alive the records are very scant I have his war record card which is basic under circumstances when a lot of detail was destroyed before our digital age took over!
Many written documents were simply destroyed!

A lot of records were destroyed by German bombing in WW2.

 

[jaycee]

The ending to black adder goes forth is one of the most poiniant moments in comedy showing the disaster the the Somme was

 

[Joey66]

A lot of records were destroyed by German bombing in WW2.

Yes I know I paid on a war anchestery site and put my Grandads medal number in to get a war record card it has papers missing of revelalnt action etc just his service and leaving details still proud and interested always in World War One - one story he told my brother when firs being posted all over the place seeing a Zebra a lot of soldiers thought it was a striped horse, and how easy it was at first as they were fighting opposition with just spears and shields, but it soon got nasty when the Germans armed them he survived once under dead bodies acting dead!

 

[ToffeeDoug]

......The French last attended the Commemoration of the Somme in 1932, didn't turn up for the 50th and won't turn up for the 100th

The French were having their own massive problems at Verdun. The Battle of the Somme was a British and Commonwealth forces campaign designed in part to drag German troops away from the French sector to plug the gaps (had it been successful of course).

 

[ToffeeDoug]

The famous saying Lions led by donkeys my Grandad survived the First War signed up walking from Vauxhall rd area to Warrington by foot under age to join to join the The Royal Lancashire Fuselieirs he started after training in the deserts v the Turks - thank goodness he avoided the Somme - he died at the age of 64 in a old peoples home with his chest being affected by the gas in the trenches - he only told my older brother a few tales of his action as I was just a small kid who went to see him every Sunday!

I always collect his regiment badges, and my older brother has his medals to pass down to the eldest son in the family - I have researched his war record which to my dismay believe it or not if you came back alive the records are very scant I have his war record card which is basic under circumstances when a lot of detail was destroyed before our digital age took over! Many written documents were simply destroyed!

It might be the case that the war documents were destroyed by fire when German bombers in WW2 largely flattened Kew Palace in London (where all the WW1 archives were stored).

EDIT. sorry, just seen the earlier posts

 

[peteblue]

The French were having their own massive problems at Verdun. The Battle of the Somme was a British and Commonwealth forces campaign designed in part to drag German troops away from the French sector to plug the gaps (had it been successful of course).

Indeed, and the French will be involved with the commemoration in Thiepval.......

 

[Joey66]

...read a book on this last summer, amazing how many young boys perished after giving false ages to recruitment officers. Very brave lads, I can only imagine what it must have been like for their parents and families.

Many lied to join remember at first it was voluntary, a shilling a day was a vast amount of money in those days my grandad joined in that way don't forget it was all supposed to be over by Christmas he survived but luckily to my knowledge was never on the Somme he mainly thought the Turks in the deserts, but was moved his war records when I tracked them down Were very scant - as a kid he always had a bad chest with the mustard gas etc proud of him and all the other participants Lions led by Donkeys is a true phrase!

 

[ToffeeDoug]

Indeed, and the French will be involved with the commemoration in Thiepval.......

Interestingly, at the time the village of Thiepval was behind the German front line. It was from there the Aussie forces got their appalling pounding at Windmill Ridge barely a mile away across no man's land.

 

[PhilM]

Just looking at the footage of them going over the wall, probably knowing they were going to die. Then you think of the modern war systems that have no any human contact.Total respect for every one of them.

That might have been true in many other battles, but on the first day of the Somme salient it was in fact probably mostly the opposite.

This was the first sizeable introduction of the pals battalions in any significant number and further exacerbated by inexperienced NCOs and officers.

They saw the barrage, which fuelled their confidence, and their inexperience meant they readily believed the propaganda of upcoming success.

Would there have been apprehension? Yes. Fear? Of course in most. But overall, they were heavily confidence of a significant victory.

As @ToffeeDoug rightly mentions though, the barrage was heavily ineffective. In addition, they held the high ground over the sweeping plains.

Add to that the fact that the mine under Hawthorn Ridge Redoub was blown almost ten minutes early, apparently so it could be easily filmed.

This gave the German's significant notice of the fore coming attack. Walking forwards towards the plateau they literally stood no chance.

 

[Toffeelover]

A terrible war of slaughter as are all wars. My prayers go to the thousands that have perished.

 

[Joey66]

The ending to black adder goes forth is one of the most poiniant moments in comedy showing the disaster the the Somme was

They show that series in schools as it is funny it is sadly true!

 

[summerisle]

The 'village' of Thiepval under bombardment from British gunners.

Pozieres, a village captured by mainly Australian forces photographed on June 17th and a month later.

 

[maccavennie]

been over to the Somme 3 times now, my great grandad who was in the Lancashire Fusiliers fought in the war ( though he didn't die over there he was injured and passed away back here ).

A very surreal place to visit with so many graves scattered about it really brings home how many lost their lives and how close the combat was.

 

[summerisle]

A little more info here.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-30250533

 

[Jamo Martinez]

On the first of July 1916 750,000 men took part on the first day of the Somme offensive. On the first day 114 soldiers from Liverpool died.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/battle-somme-fallen-liverpool-heroes-11536078

The Liverpool 'Pals' regiment was formed on the 2/8/1914 - one of the first. They performed with distinction throughout the War, and regardless of feelings today towards the conduct of the battle of the Somme and the War, I think we should remember them.

3rd last name up was James Martin. Never heard of any relatives of mine who fought in the Somme but still weird seeing my own name on that list