The Somme : 1/7/16

[evertony]

The tragedy of the Somme and WW1 in general is incomprehensible to a normal person who wasn't around at that time and has relied on records and history books to deliver the story. Those brave men and women of the time are truly heroic....I can't begin to comprehend what it must have really felt like living through the First World War or being actively involved in the hand-to-hand combat. We owe so, so much to those folk.....and we should never, ever forget that.

 

[summerisle]

Some interesting information and recollections on The Cheshire Regiment (15th Battalion) known as the Wirral Pals.

http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=495

 

[Redstarrob]

My grandad fought at the somme with the 12th battalion 36th ulster division

 

[ToffeeDoug]

My grandad fought at the somme with the 12th battalion 36th ulster division

I've visited the Ulster Memorial Tower on the Somme a few years back. Not because I am Irish, Northern Irish or anything, just out of considerable interest in an astonishing story in our history.

 

[Bluerifleman]

Can't comprehend what it must have taken to stand there waiting to go over the top and doing it. Thankfully due to these men I won't have to

 

[ToffeeDoug]

Can't comprehend what it must have taken to stand there waiting to go over the top and doing it. Thankfully due to these men I won't have to

On that particular morning, I would imagine the mood was one of excitement as much as trepidation as it was widely assumed that the week long barrage would have done its job and there would be nothing left of the German trenches.

In contrast, on the Italian-Austrian front in the mountains, where they fought the same battle over and over again about 10 times, morale was so poor amongst the Italian troops that many refused to leave their trenches to go 'over the top' and Italian officers resorted to walking through their trenches shooting those who had refused to leave.

 

[deipnosophist]

My grandad fought at the somme with the 12th battalion 36th ulster division

My grandfather (Dad's dad) fought there too...I never met him. But I know of him

 

[Bluerifleman]

On that particular morning, I would imagine the mood was one of excitement as much as trepidation as it was widely assumed that the week long barrage would have done its job and there would be nothing left of the German trenches.

In contrast, on the Italian-Austrian front in the mountains, where they fought the same battle over and over again about 10 times, morale was so poor amongst the Italian troops that many refused to leave their trenches to go 'over the top' and Italian officers resorted to walking through their trenches shooting those who had refused to leave.

There would have been a few of the older fellas from the original bEF who would've known what was coming to an extent but you're probably right with the rest of them.
If I remember rightly there were a few mutinies in the German forces towards the end aswell

 

[Ashtonian]

Humbling experience for me. Walking in the trenches there, stopping and seeing the tree they never made it past when ordered to walk over the top, just harrowing to see, and how far away it was.

 

[PhilM]

Just in case anybody is interested, on BBC2 right now (started at 7.30 and on onto 9.30) there is a tribute to those who fought at the Somme.

 

[Redstarrob]

I've visited the Ulster Memorial Tower on the Somme a few years back. Not because I am Irish, Northern Irish or anything, just out of considerable interest in an astonishing story in our history.

"I am not an ulsterman, but yesterday the 1st july. As i followed their amazing attack, i felt that i would rather be an ulsterman than anything else in the world" (captain wilfred spender, 2nd july 1916)

 

[big bobs beard]

My grandad was one of them, sadly died when I was only two so never got to know him, only some of the tales my mum passed on. A devout Christian who gave up all belieef in god due to the hell he witnessed there, mates blown apart in front of his eyes, nursing dying pals, watching rats the size of cats and dogs eating rotting flesh, gave him nightmares till his dying days in 1971. Luckily only shot in the leg, so returned with a severe limp. This however blighted him for years, he used to struggle to walk and in the great depression of the 30's still walked from Dovecot to the docks every day in search of work, but always turned down by the gangmasters because of his age and limp, but still did this agonising walk every day in all weathers. Meant my mum grew up in grinding poverty and the tales she told me about brushing teeth with soot, cabbage soup twice a day, getting bones from the butchers for 'the dog' puts the shower of 'Jeremy Kyle' scrounging benefits culture to absolute shame. Thanks to him we are all blues in our family too!

 

[TrixyStevens]

60,000 dead after the first day shocking waste of life

 

[summerisle]

60,000 dead after the first day shocking waste of life

Nit picking, but nearly 60,000 casualties and nearly 20,000 killed. J R R Tolkien and Hitler took part on the first day.

 

[ToffeeDoug]

Nit picking, but nearly 60,000 casualties and nearly 20,000 killed. J R R Tolkien and Hitler took part on the first day.

Yep, 19,500 dead and 38,000 wounded on day one. Knew about Hitler, not Tolkein.

The Battle itself lasted months.