On this day in 1916 the British Army suffered its worst day, losing 19,240 men on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. By the time fighting paused in late autumn 1916, the forces involved had suffered more than one million casualties, making it one of the bloodiest military operations ever recorded. Their sacrifice must never be forgotten.
Below is my Great-Grandad Henry (pictured during the war) who also died in France on 27th April 1918, aged 35, just seven months before the end of the First World War.
I will tell you more about Henry in a future post, but for today let us remember all those who lost their lives in the Battle of the Somme.
One million casualties?? Phew, puts Afghanistan and Iraq in the shade a bit doesnt it? Guess it wasnt really broadcast so much then, as it is nowadays. Every hour, on the hour for the news channels. Sometimes you cant get away from bad news.
ReplyDeleteYou are very lucky to have photographs of such a distant relative Tracey. I dont even have one of my late mother :-( But thats another story. Maybe I should start a blog? !! But then wouldnt have time to update it lol
Dizzy Di
xx