Battle of the Somme 95th Anniversary (1 Viewer)

[Rob]

Here's to the memory of the men of the British Army who on this very morning 95 years ago left their trenches in Picardy Northern France and advanced towards the Germans. We all know what happened and it quickly became the worst day in the History of the British army and it remains so today. By the end of that terrible murderous day around 20,000 British soldiers lay dead with another 40,000 wounded. Not one survivor of that Battle is with us now, all those young men who went off to War have passed away, but the memory of them lives on.

RIP

Rob

 

[The Ruskie]

Lest we forget!

 

[Obee]

And remember the 'colonials' too....

Aussies, Kiwis, Canadians, New Foundlanders, South Africans and Indians, who all went 'over the top' on that day.

Lest we forget....

John

 

[UKReb]

Here's to the memory of the men of the British Army who on this very morning 95 years ago left their trenches in Picardy Northern France and advanced towards the Germans. We all know what happened and it quickly became the worst day in the History of the British army and it remains so today. By the end of that terrible murderous day around 20,000 British soldiers lay dead with another 40,000 wounded. Not one survivor of that Battle is with us now, all those young men who went off to War have passed away, but the memory of them lives on.

RIP

Rob

Moving post Rob and fully concur with your comments.

The phrase I vividly remember when first reading about this battle as a very young history student was "The pity of it all". The description of those tragic young and mainly working class heroes reduced to mounds of dead and wounded has remained with me forever. But unfortunately when a nation is committed to war then someone has to pay the levy in blood.

However, what I believe to be now more tragic is that the teaching of the subject of The Great War has unfortunately been reduced to a few scant paragraphs in our childrens school text books. That today is "the pity of it all"

Bob

 

[Rob]

Moving post Rob and fully concur with your comments.

The phrase I vividly remember when first reading about this battle as a very young history student was "The pity of it all". The description of those tragic young and mainly working class heroes reduced to mounds of dead and wounded has remained with me forever. But unfortunately when a nation is committed to war then someone has to pay the levy in blood.

However, what I believe to be now more tragic is that the teaching of the subject of The Great War has unfortunately been reduced to a few scant paragraphs in our childrens school text books. That today is "the pity of it all"

Bob

Thanks Bob.

I woke up this morning to a wonderful sun and blue sky morning and my mind went straight to the services that will have happened over there today. I've attended many of these over the years, the service at the Lochnagar crater with the scattering of poppies into the vast hole beneath you is very moving indeed. I've also attended a service opposite Serre where the Pals battalions were cut to pieces as they went into battle for the first time full of hope and thoughts of glory. Would have loved to have been there today, but I hope to be there next year.

Cheers

Rob

 

[breslau]

Lest we Forget.......our gallant French allies who also suffered terribly over the course of the day and the battle.

 

[Rob]

Yes we remember all the nations who lost young men on that day German included. I understand some German soldiers went mad under the week long bombardment that preceded the attack.

Rob

 

[breslau]

Yes we remember all the nations who lost young men on that day German included. I understand some German soldiers went mad under the week long bombardment that preceded the attack.

Rob

Truly well said Rob

 

[Louis Badolato]

To me this is one of the most tragic momments in human history. Perhaps the most tragic part is that the men who fought in that war believed they were fighting a war to end all wars, and what has followed is perhaps the most violent century in modern times.

 

[trooper]

There is a major program about the Battle of the Somme on the Military History Channel 531 at 2pm on Sunday. Trooper

 

[lancer]

"Gentlemen, when the barrage lifts..."

 

[Mitch]

great post Rob. My respects to that special generation
Mitch