Today in 1916… Th Somme Offensive Begins

[elwaclaret]

The Accrington Pals enter history.

Volunteers from Accrington and District and volunteers from Burnley, Chorley and Blackburn went “over the top” at At 7.20am, Captain Tough led the first of the battalion's four waves followed moments later by Captain Livesey with the second. Soon followed by the 3rd and 4th Companies. At 7.30am, the British bombardment was lifted and the German front line rose from their shelters and immediately tore into the advancing lines of infantry. Groups of pals incredibly survived this and made it to the German lines and even pushed on towards Serre. It was bravery beyond endurance but alas all in vain, by 8am, the battle for Serre was effectively over.

[longsidetrumpet]

Most of them ordinary lads from mills, offices and farms. They could never have believed the sheer horror of what unfolded around them. So many killed and so many maimed, facing a life of pain and disability

[GetIntoEm]

its unbelievable the sacrifice that everyday folk gave during these conflicts, imagine getting the same today? doubt it

[Pearcey]

its unbelievable the sacrifice that everyday folk gave during these conflicts, imagine getting the same today? doubt it

If our shores were being invaded I think you’d be surprised. The difference now is that people won’t jump to war on the back of politics. Scarily, we’re now starting to repeat those mistakes from back then. Crazy!

I’ll be forever grateful to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice and we can only hope it doesn’t happen again.

[Lambo]

Always very sad to hear stories of the sacrifices made by the young “pals” regiments at battles like the Somme, Paschendale and Verdun…a total waste of young lives brought about by the sheer incompetence of the Generals…the phrase “lions led by donkeys” was never more appropriate….sad that conflicts still threaten the World…the human race has learnt nothing from history

[jos]

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”
- George Santayana (1905)

[claret2018]

If our shores were being invaded I think you’d be surprised.

Some people wouldn’t put a bit of cloth over their face during a global pandemic, I don’t think you’d get many willing to go over to defend another country from invasion now.

[Pearcey]

Some people wouldn’t put a bit of cloth over their face during a global pandemic, I don’t think you’d get many willing to go over to defend another country from invasion now.

Because people don’t believe politicians which is fair enough.

In my 26 years of RAF service the older members would alway dig at the young ones. Those young ones always go on to reach senior ranks and do well, just as those before them. We shouldn’t underestimate our youngsters.

[Pearcey]

Some people wouldn’t put a bit of cloth over their face during a global pandemic, I don’t think you’d get many willing to go over to defend another country from invasion now.

Because people don’t believe politicians which is fair enough.

In my 26 years of RAF service the older members would alway dig at the young ones. Those young ones always go on to reach senior ranks and do well, just as those before them. We shouldn’t underestimate our youngsters.

[JohnMcGreal]

A disaster within a catastrophe. Those poor souls and so many others never stood a chance.

The sheer scale of carnage, futility and wide reaching consequences of the first world war never ceases to blow my mind. The biggest disaster in all of human history.