Day of Days - The First Day of the Somme
This week Galloway's resident Military Historian and Chairman of the International Guild of Battlefield Guides considers the anniversary of the first day of the Battle of the Somme.
This weekend we will all be aware of the commemorations marking the 70th Anniversary of the Normandy landings on 6th June 1944. The momentous events of D-day loom large in our national memory.
Many readers may have good personal reasons to remember the landings - they were there. The 1st Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment landed on Sword Beach and went on to distinguish itself by capturing a number of heavily defended objectives inland. The Normandy landings were a success and we therefore tend to look back at Normandy in a positive light. We are also lucky to have a handful of surviving veterans around to tell us first-hand about their experiences in 1944.
Sadly this is no longer the case with the First World War and we have to work a little harder to understand what the men who wore the Suffolk’s cap badge experienced. In a few weeks time on 1st July, it will be the 98th anniversary of the start of the Battle of the Somme, a huge British offensive intended by its planners and everyman who took part to be a 'Day of Days' that would aid our French allies and perhaps change the course of the war.
The disaster that unfolded on Sunday 1st July 1916 is still regarded by many historians as the blackest day in the history of the British Army. As dusk drew in on the French battlefield at the end of Sunday, the scale of the failure began to filter through to the shocked commanders of what was largely a citizen Army made up of volunteer soldiers. With the notable exception of progress in the south of the British assault area, little or no ground had been gained and there was no prospect of the intended large-scale breakthrough of the German defences.
The casualty figures for the 1st July are frequently misquoted. However, whichever way they are considered, they are staggering. It would take weeks for the full figure to be calculated but eventually the casualty reports would total 57,000, of which 21,000 would be listed as Killed in Action. The remainder of the terrible total would be listed as Wounded, Missing or Prisoners of War.
Over the years, this blackest day has dominated many people's perception of the entire war, it seems to almost confirm the Blackadder view and perpetuate the belief that citizen soldiers were Lions led by Donkeys. In fact there is so much more to the battle of the Somme than this hackneyed view.
Like the Normandy campaign, it went on for months after its first day. In fact, fighting on the Somme continued until 18 November 1916. As with D-day, it was planned in great detail, involved innovation and introduced new technology. The participating troops in both battles were highly motivated, well trained and well equipped. So what really went wrong, why and how could the two days turn out so differently?
These are exactly the questions that the historians from the Guild of Battlefield Guides strive to answer during the Somme Day Excursions. Why not come with us and walk on the battlefields of the Somme, look beyond the myths and half-truths, see for yourself on a Galloway battlefield tour.