Battle of the Somme Centenary: Lest We Forget

July 1916: the opening phase of the Battle of the Somme. British troops in a communication trench before an attack.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/first-day-somme-timeline-how-8318629

HQ Company 8th East Lancashire Regiment at Whizz-Bang Corner,
Fonquevilliers, 1915

A staggering 22,000 men lost their lives on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on July 1, 1916.

The largest battle of the First World War would continue until November, with Allied and German forces locked in a bloody, muddy stalemate as the daily death toll rose.

It would go on to become the bloodiest battle in history, with more than a million soldiers wounded or killed.

Britain alone lost 794,238 troops.