Great Battles of the Great War Somme Here Comes Kitcheners Army

The Battle of the Somme has a particular place in British social history The opening day of the campaign on the 1st July 1916 is remembered as the worst day in British military history As the mainly untried recruits of Kitcheners New Army went over the top they were annihilated by the waiting Germans There were more than 60000 casualties nearly 20000 of them dead It was a campaign that began in the sweltering heat of summer and ended four and a half months later bogged down in a sea of mud This programme details the opening phase of the battle and explains why so many young men volunteered As the battle ground on through the summer the losses among the troops became critical This programme charts the final stages of the battle as the British army slogged its way across the devastated ground Only a few miles had been gained for the loss of untold thousands of lives