Today is the 99th Anniversary of the Somme Offensive in WW1. A catastrophic loss of human life, for little gain. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Somme
We could Owen, but when I got into work and realised the date, I thought I would commemorate the anniversary on the forum.
I feel old as I used to know a WW1 Veteran who was there for the 70th back in '86, still got the photos & letters from him. I noticed that there was a bit about 1st July 16 on another members twitter feed & felt sorry for the chaps who died on 1st July 1915 as if nothing happened then so let's skip a year . I expect this day next year will be huge in the media. I know Adam will say something about any particular anniversary & why we make a fuss about it, why not remember it on any day?
I think you're right. I was speaking with a Liverpool family at the Chindit Old Comrades Dinner last month. They had a grandfather who survived the battle whilst serving with one of the Pals Battalions. They told me that he never recovered mentally from his experiences and always felt guilty that he came home, but so many of his comrades did not.
I agree July 1 next year will be a big media event, but what about the 1915 battles? I've been disappointed with WWI coverage on the BBC etal. There was a spate of "good war/bad war" and "who was to blame" programmes last year and a bit about Gallipoli this year, but what about the other events in 1915 - first gas attack on the western front at Ypres, Neuve Chappelle, Aubers Ridge. Nothing on any of these. Let's hope Loos is covered properly. I remember someone posted a spreadsheet on here with WWI day-by-day commonwealth casualties (deaths). Obviously, 1 July 1916 was the highest, but next highest was 25 September 1915 - the first day of the Battle of Loos (9,000 plus from what I can remember).
You might have noted this press release for 2016 commemorative events.. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/we-will-remember-them-8000-tickets-available-for-public-to-commemorate-the-battle-of-the-somme-centenary A hundred years ago, the Victoria Cross was awarded to two men of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers for actions on 1st/2nd July 1915 - Captain Gerald O'Sullivan and Sgt James Somers, one born in Co Cork, the other in Co Cavan, And if you're interested, the Loos details have been published recently - this excerpt taken from the Great War Forum. Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September 2015 Re-enactment. The centre of the town will be decked out as a First World War village. Friday 18th September 2015 Conference on the Battle of Loos – Salle d’Honneur de la Mairie Talks about Traces of the Great War by Gilles Payen and Simon Godly Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th September 2015 Airshow - http://www.meeting-air-lens.com/ by “Passion of the skies” of department Nord-Pas de Calais Friday 25th September 2015 At 20.00 hrs - Foyer Omer Caron, Loos (Free, but you have to reserve a ticket) Show inspired by the story of Rudyard Kipling who lost his son John in the Battle of Loos on 27-09-1915 Saturday 26th September 2015 Commemoration with the London Irish Rifles Starts at 10.00 with rendezvous at (assemble at) the British Cemetery Unveiling of monument to Emilienne Moreau at 13:00 https://en.wikipedia...e_Moreau-Evrard Show at the municipal Médiathèque of Loos 16:00 and 18:00, by schoolchildren from Loos. Free, but obligatory reservation. Sunday 27th September 2015 Walk from Dupuich Farm at Mazingarbe to Loos, via Dud Corner AUCHY LES MINES 7-14 October 2015 – Town Hall Exhibition “Auchy Les Mines" Daily life of soldiers and their familiy. Testimonials and memories / souvenirs 9th-10th October 2015 – Sports complex Paul Barroix Exhibition “The Battle of Hohenzollern Redoubt”
I agree with the sentiments expressed by the other forum members. Over on the British Medal Forum we are attempting to commemorate each single day of the war, by posting a personal tribute to a soldier or soldiers who have a connection to that particular day. It might be a casualty, but it could also be an award for gallantry or some other reason.
The 'spreadsheet' was probably my post (for UK numbers). Worse 10 days includes Somme1916, Somme1918, Loos, Arras (several days), Aubers... http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/28000-ww1-highest-single-days-deaths/?p=341923
Hi Geoff, Interesting info, especially the graphs. But I think someone posted a full spreadsheet of every day of WWI earlier this year. Or it might have been on another forum. Cheers, Shaun
My wife passed through Waterloo Station today and caught a glimpse of these actors dressed as 'Ghost Soldiers' in homage to those lost one hundred years ago today at the Somme. She said it was a very emotive and poignant moment: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/hundreds-of-ww1-ghost-soldiers-appear-at-train-131118808.html Here are more other Somme commemoration links: http://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/learning/first-world-war/the-battle-of-the-somme?utm_campaign=news&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sp&utm_content=985061 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/30/somme-soldiers-letters-released-centenary?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
There's been some nice short video's done from my local news the Border TV all week. Monday http://www.itv.com/news/border/update/2016-06-27/watch-border-regions-regiments-at-the-somme/ All this week we'll be looking at the stories of some of the soldiers from this region who took part in the Battle of the Somme. It was fought along a 15-mile section of the western front in Northern France, close to the town of Albert. For his first report Tim Backshall has travelled to the battlefields to find out what happened to our local regiments. Tuesday http://www.itv.com/news/border/update/2016-06-28/watch-one-mans-journey-back-to-the-somme/ In his second report, Tim Backshall meets one man who lost a relative in the battle and follows him on the journey back to the Somme: Wednesday http://www.itv.com/news/border/update/2016-06-29/watch-the-survivors-of-the-somme/ Thousands of men from Cumbria and the south of Scotland fought and died in the Battle of the Somme, 100 years ago this week. The Border Regiment lost around 1700 men and the Kings Own Scottish Borderers about a thousand. But there are also some remarkable stories of men who survived against all the odds. Tim Backshall met two grandsons of Somme soldier survivors: Thursday http://www.itv.com/news/border/update/2016-06-30/watch-penrith-pupils-commemorate-the-somme/ Pupils from a primary school in Penrith are in France for the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme. North Lakes School is the only one from the North West of England to be chosen to represent the UK at the official commemorations tomorrow. Friday http://www.itv.com/news/border/update/2016-07-01/watch-the-unexpected-survivor-of-the-somme/ 60,000 British soldiers were killed or wounded on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. One of them was Fred Francis from Carlisle. He was shot and wasn't expected survive - but did. He spoke to us in the 1980's about what he went through that day:
I had the pleasure to attend commemorations at Thiepval today. Near flawless execution, perfect tone and right balance. Far better than Normandy. Indeed helped act as impetus to finish my article on Thomas Boswell, my Great,Great Grandfather who died during the Battle for Bazentin Ridge. http://www.jonathanhware.com/another-thinning-out-parade.html
