The First Day on the Somme
In this article we are going to explore the topic of The First Day on the Somme and its impact on our contemporary society. The First Day on the Somme is a skin that has captured the attention of experts and enthusiasts alike, and its relevance has only grown in recent years. Throughout this article, we will examine different facets of The First Day on the Somme, from its history and evolution to its implications in today's world. Through detailed analysis, we hope to shed light on this topic and provide our readers with a deeper understanding of The First Day on the Somme and its importance in the modern world.
The First Day on the Somme (ISBN 0-14-139071-9) is a First World War military history book by Martin Middlebrook, first published in 1971 and still in print, which is regarded as a seminal work in the field of World War I scholarship reflecting the United Kingdom's perspective in the conflict. Its text covers in detail the events leading up to and during 1 July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme, concentrating almost exclusively on the British Army's experiences and focussing only in relief on French Army's contribution, especially south of the Somme River.
Early chapters deal with the formation of Kitchener's Army (New Army), which comprised a substantial part of the British Army's order of battle for the day, and the origins and planning of the Somme offensive. The coverage of the fighting is divided by time of day, starting with the hours leading up to "zero", followed by "zero hour", the morning, afternoon and night, with review chapters between each to sum up the fighting. The book concludes with the aftermath of the first day and a calculation of the cost of the fighting. The British casualty figures compiled by Middlebrook are often quoted as the definitive tally for 1 July.
Throughout the book Middlebrook uses quotations from soldiers involved in the fighting on the day, following ten men's stories. These men presenting a cross-section of the British Army of 1916 — Regular Army, New Army and Territorial Force — with ranks from privates up to battalion commander (lieutenant colonel).
See also
External links
 | This article about a nonfiction book on World War I is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |