THE SOMME 1916

British 31st. Division, largely composed of pals battalions from the north of England , launch an attack on German positions near the village of Serre , during the offensive on the Somme, 1916.

On Saturday, 1 July 1916 at zero hour after the British barrage had lifted from the German front line, the British infantry moved forward towards the German trenches.

Owing to the British artillery's failure to deal with the barbed wire and to reach the dugouts, many German defenders survived the bombardment and were able to cut down the attacking British infantrymen. The British losses were staggering, 19,240 were killed and 35,493 wounded. These were the biggest losses ever suffered by the British Army in a single day.