Elegy

The First Day on the Somme

Nonfiction, History, Military, World War I
Cover of the book Elegy by Andrew Roberts, Head of Zeus
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Andrew Roberts ISBN: 9781784080006
Publisher: Head of Zeus Publication: September 10, 2015
Imprint: Head of Zeus Language: English
Author: Andrew Roberts
ISBN: 9781784080006
Publisher: Head of Zeus
Publication: September 10, 2015
Imprint: Head of Zeus
Language: English

On 1 July 1916, after a five-day bombardment, 11 British and 5 French divisions launched their long-awaited 'Big Push' on German positions on high ground above the Rivers Ancre and Somme on the Western Front. Some ground was gained, but at a terrible cost. In killing-grounds whose names are indelibly imprinted on 20th-century memory, German machine-guns – manned by troops who had sat out the storm of shellfire in deep dugouts – inflicted terrible losses on the British infantry.

The British Fourth Army lost 57,470 casualties, the French Sixth Army suffered 1,590 casualties and the German 2nd Army 10,000. And this was but the prelude to 141 days of slaughter that would witness the deaths of between 750,000 and 1 million troops.

Andrew Roberts evokes the pity and the horror of the blackest day in the history of the British army – a summer's day-turned-hell-on-earth by modern military technology – in the words of casualties, survivors, and the bereaved.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

On 1 July 1916, after a five-day bombardment, 11 British and 5 French divisions launched their long-awaited 'Big Push' on German positions on high ground above the Rivers Ancre and Somme on the Western Front. Some ground was gained, but at a terrible cost. In killing-grounds whose names are indelibly imprinted on 20th-century memory, German machine-guns – manned by troops who had sat out the storm of shellfire in deep dugouts – inflicted terrible losses on the British infantry.

The British Fourth Army lost 57,470 casualties, the French Sixth Army suffered 1,590 casualties and the German 2nd Army 10,000. And this was but the prelude to 141 days of slaughter that would witness the deaths of between 750,000 and 1 million troops.

Andrew Roberts evokes the pity and the horror of the blackest day in the history of the British army – a summer's day-turned-hell-on-earth by modern military technology – in the words of casualties, survivors, and the bereaved.

More books from Head of Zeus

Cover of the book A Different Class of Murder by Andrew Roberts
Cover of the book Crazy Stupid Love by Andrew Roberts
Cover of the book Night Flight to Paris by Andrew Roberts
Cover of the book A Book of Railway Journeys by Andrew Roberts
Cover of the book Coco Chanel Saved My Life by Andrew Roberts
Cover of the book Painted Cities by Andrew Roberts
Cover of the book A Christmas Wish by Andrew Roberts
Cover of the book How Trump Thinks by Andrew Roberts
Cover of the book Papercuts 4: Hong Kong Phooey by Andrew Roberts
Cover of the book What Happened to Us? by Andrew Roberts
Cover of the book The Girl from the Corner Shop by Andrew Roberts
Cover of the book Death of a She Devil by Andrew Roberts
Cover of the book The One Saving Grace by Andrew Roberts
Cover of the book Three-and-a-Half Heartbeats by Andrew Roberts
Cover of the book The Inheritance by Andrew Roberts
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy