Today marks the centenary anniversary of the start of the battle of the Somme in World War I.
This most devastating military event in British history saw nearly 60,000 casualties (of which 19,240 were killed) on the first day alone.
The battle lasted 141 days, resulting in over a million allied casualties by the end.
There is much in the newspapers at the moment about this event. Here is one example, setting out some more key facts.
But the facts somehow de-personalise the human stories which underpin them. Many, many words have been written about this battle and WWI in general. It seems to me that there is no need to add to them. I therefore pay my tribute with a visual ‘quote’ to commemorate those who fought, died and were wounded. We will remember them.
Image from http://www.centenarynews.com (click image to enlarge)
Thank-you very much for this post Liz.
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Including Rifleman Arthur Revely Williams Gunnell, 1st/9th Battalion, London Regiment (Queen Victoria’s Rifles), who died at the Somme on 1 July 1916, aged 26. His card was handed to me by a WW1 soldier at London Bridge in yesterday’s extraordinary and brilliant #wearehere performance.
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Thank you very much for this, Liz. The WeAreHere project was amazing and moving, wasn’t it.
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It’s easy to forget through statistics but each one loved, loved, touched the lives of people and did what they thought was right. It is a harrowing loss and I wish we knew more about so many of them, even mundane facts would be something special now.
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Thank you very much for contributing to this story. I completely agree with you and am thinking of getting this book to engage with and pay tribute to those who fought in this battle at an individual level https://www.amazon.co.uk/Somme-Battle-Soldiers-Words-Photographs/dp/1473855217/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1467566359&sr=1-1&keywords=the+somme+richard+van+emden
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It looks like a very comprehensive book and one that will be more of an experience than a straight read. Order it today!
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Lol – get thee behind me, Satan!
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