1 July 1916, the first day of The Battle of the Somme,
was the worst day in the history of the British Army.
was the worst day in the history of the British Army.
British Army casualties for the day were 60,000.
The Battle of the Somme lasted from
1 July 1916 until 18 November 1916.
In total, there were more than 1 million casualties.
Leyton Orient Football Club
Supporters visit The Somme Battlefields,
July 2011.
Available on YouTube at
Soldiers of the Australian 4th Division, 10th Field Artillery Brigade, on a duck-board track,
passing through Chateau Wood, near Hooge, in the Ypres salient, 29 October 1917.
The leading soldier is Gunner James Fulton and the second soldier is Lieutenant Anthony Devine.
The men belong to a Battery of the 10th Field Artillery Brigade.
Source: This image is available from the Collection Database of the
Australian War Memorial under the ID Number: E01220.
Author: Frank Hurley.
(Wikimedia Commons)
Frank Hurley.
(Editor: Frank Hurley was the photographer, who took the
photo (above) of Australian troops passing through Chateau Wood.)
Date: 1914.
Source: Scanned from The Endurance by
Caroline Alexander ISBN 074754123X.
Author: Frank Hurley (1885-1962).
(Wikimedia Commons)
The Battle of Passchendaele
(or Third Battle of Ypres or "Passchendaele")
July 1917 - November 1917.
In total, there were, approximately, 1 million casualties.
Battle of The Menin Road.
"Australian wounded on The Menin Road, near Birr Cross Road,
on 20 September 1917".
(Caption source: National Library of Australia, n.d. (1 June 2014).
Date: 1917.
Source: State Library of New South Wales file:a479035.
Author: Frank Hurley.
(Wikimedia Commons)
The Accrington Pals.
11th (Service) Battalion (Accrington),
East Lancashire Regiment.
Better known as
'The Accrington Pals' Battalion.
"Accrington Pals",
near Hyndburn Park School, Accrington, Lancashire, 1914.
[Accrington Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment, B Company, No. 1 Platoon.]
Photo kindly provided by Robert and Tony Robinson.
A month after the outbreak of war,
the "Accrington Observer and Times" reported,
on 8 September 1914, that an offer by the Mayor of Accrington,
Captain John Harwood, to set up a Battalion,
had been accepted by The War Office.
As the recruitment began, on 14 September 1914, 104 men were drafted during the first three hours. Brothers, friends and
work-mates reported together. On 24 September 1914,
The Accrington Battalion had reached a full strength of
36 officers and 1,076 men.
About half of the Battalion were recruited from Accrington and the surrounding area; the remainder were recruited from the neighbouring towns of Burnley, Chorley, and Blackburn.
The 'Accrington Pals' Battalion is probably the most famous of
The "Pals" Battalions, which were erected in the early months of
World War I, in response to Kitchener's call to form a Volunteer Army.
It was formed by men from all walks of life from Accrington, Lancashire, and the surrounding area.
The "Pals" Battalions, which were erected in the early months of
World War I, in response to Kitchener's call to form a Volunteer Army.
It was formed by men from all walks of life from Accrington, Lancashire, and the surrounding area.
Groups of friends - "Pals" - came forward together, in anticipation of a great adventure. In its first major battle, the Battalion suffered devastating losses in the attack on Serre, France, on 1 July 1916, the first day of
The Battle of the Somme.
The Battle of the Somme.
The losses were hard to bear in a community where everyone had a close relative or friend killed or injured.
Although the Battalion fought again,
the "Pals" concept was forever lost.
the "Pals" concept was forever lost.
May They Rest In Peace.
Requiéscant In Pace.
