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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Battles of the Somme
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(1916, 1918)
Prolonged engagements in *World War I, resulting in massive loss of life and little military advantage. Part of the line of trenches ran along the valley of the river Somme in northern France. In July 1916 *Haig laid down a heavy bombardment of the German position, which he believed could be followed by a rapid infantry advance. Instead the first day claimed the highest number of casualties in British military history; 60,000 men fell as they struggled towards the enemy machine guns.
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By November, when prolonged rain brought the Somme offensive to an end, little had been achieved – except perhaps in relieving the pressure of the German assault on the French lines at Verdun (Feb.–Dec. 1916). By the end of the Somme offensive the British had lost 420,000 men, the French 195,000 and the Germans more than 600,000. There was one newcomer to the battlefield which played an insignificant part on this occasion but which had a very important future – the *tank.
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The second Battle of the Somme began with a German attempt on 21 March 1918 to break through the Allied lines before the anticipated arrival of large numbers of US troops on the battlefields. The British retreated some 64km/40m before French reinforcements turned the tide. By April 5 the Germans had been forced back, but the casualties in a little over two weeks had been 163,000 British and 77,000 French, with a total of more than 200,000 on the German side.
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