The Somme

[THECORBYLOON]

To-day is the 90th Anniversary of the start of the Battle of The Somme. One 22-year old Lieutenant wrote to his Father the day before the battle

"Dear Father,

I am just writing you a short note which you will receive only if anything has happened to me during the next few days.
The Hun is going to get consummate hell just in this quarter & we are going over the parapet tomorrow, when I hope to spend a few merry hours in chasing the Bosch all over the place. I am absolutely certain that I shall get through all right, but in case the unexpected does happen I shall rest content with the knowledge that I have done my duty � and one can't do more.
Good Bye & wish the Best of Love to all

from

Percy "

He was killed within the Battle's first hour.

On the first day, more than 20,000 British and Empire soldiers died and more than 40,000 were injured. In the five months that followed, we suffered 420,000 casualties 125,000 of whom were killed.

On a day when many will be concentrating on a game of football, spare a thought for those brave men who fell for King and Country.........

[lindapinda]

Good thought TCL!..I went up to our local graveyard today,well yesterday now actually..and placed a cross on a grave I found some years ago,of a young man who died on the Somme.Those graves always look so lonely and forgotten.

[Oneeyedvic]

We will remember!

[spudqueen]

Coincidentaly on Thursday I bought a book on War Memorials in the town where I was born. My Grandad was injured in the First World War and one of his brothers and his brother in law both died in France. I certainly will never forget.

[WendyS]

My grandfather fought on the Somme as a young man and was one of the few fortunate men to have returned. He was very traumatised by what he saw and would never speak about it afterwards.
So for all those brave men who died for our country, let us remember and be grateful.

[vehelpfulguy]

I will think of them, but just feel so sad at the waste.

Those * * * * * * * * back at headquarters (on both sides) who sent these men over the top to almost certain death.

The human race is so stupid some times.

Try to watch the film "Oh What a Lovely War" a brilliant anti-war film from Richard Attenborough about the first world war.

Uses humour and pathos to bring home the horror of that war.

The end will bring a tear to your eye, it always does for me.

[Big Al1st]

Well said Corby I agree entirely.

I dont suppose we will ever learn. Even as I write people are putting their lives on the line to protect others, sometimes giving the ultimate sacrifice. We should remember them as well.

[shammydodger]

And the first time in the game that some pampered, overpaid nancy goes down like he's been shot after being nudged, remember the Somme again and try not to spill your beer.

[VINNY100_2]

Anthem for Doomed Youth
What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?
-Only the monstrous anger of the guns.
Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle
Can patter out their hasty orisons.
No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells;
Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,-
The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;
And bugles calling for them from sad shires.


What candles may be held to speed them all?
Not in the hands of boys but in their eyes
Shall shine the holy glimmers of good-byes.
The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall;
Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds,
And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds

[joko]

Well said TCL.

"Lest we Forget"

[jake-the-peg]

We won't remember - we weren't there to remember.

Because there are so few left who can remember it is turning from memory to history before our eyes.

It will turn slowly to rank alongside events like Trafalgar and Waterloo and then alongside battles like Towton

You remember Towton?

Palm Sunday 1461 - the Bloodiest battle ever on british soil 30,000 died in a day - 3 times the death toll of D-Day half as many again as the first day of the Somme.

They didn't have machine guns, they had to clamber over mountainous piles of bodies to hack each other to death with swords, knives and agricultural implements.

And when it was all over the survivors probably thought

"Lest we forget!" too.

Perhaps it would be better to say Sic transit gloria mundi

[joko]

jake - its not really about remembering the battle itself! There is only one man alive who can actually remember being there

its about remembering and honouring the sacrifice all those who died made for our freedom.

the reason why those battles you mentioned aren't remembered in the same way is because there are no living descendant who know anyone connected - many people are still alive who had family in this battle - as the ceremonies today made clear.

i am sure the families of those who died at all those battles you mentioned felt the same way for many years.

my own grandfather missed world war 1 because he was just a bit too young, and my own father missed world war 2 for the same reason - turning 16 just after it ended - so i could so easily never have been born.

if you don't quite understand the point of these ceremonies and that when people say 'remember' they don't mean being at the battle, then perhaps you shouldn't try to be a smartarse or flippant or try to belittle the feelings of many

[Lonnie]

A well timed post TCL, but did you know, that more servicemen died in the last year of the 1st War, than in the whole of the 2nd?.

[mushroom25]

having just watched 2 consecutive items on the news, both from europe (1 in france, 1 in germany), and both involving degrees of sadness, it seems to me that the 80,000 britons said to be in germany really need to get a sense of proportion.

[curiosity]

In support of Jake :-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

How many of us know when St Crispins day is? It's not that we don't have respect for these brave men, it's just unless it is close to our hearts we do forget.

[stevie21]

Good post - it would do us all some good to remember the sacrifices all of those people made for us.
It's a mad contrast between this and the widespread support there was for the was at the time.

[Dolly1308]

We who are left WILL remember .I cannot speak for future generations but mine will .

[snapdarlich]

My great grandfather and his two brothers all fought at the Somme.

It was a dreadful conflict yet all 3 came back. - I know! Beyond being lucky! I remember going there (to the Somme) when I was younger. It's beyond expression, just so many lives....thrown away

My great grandfather used to sob in front of the tv when it was mentioned. Nobody ever asked him about it. I think it was better that way.

[ludwig]

Just watched a very moving programme about this.
Apart from the nazi death camps, it's probably the nearest we've come to creating hell on earth.
Good post TCL. Thanks for reminding us to remember.

[Whickerman]

I watched a documentary on the subject yesterday morning. I have to say i felt humbled. We really don't know we're born

[jake-the-peg]

Joko - pretty much every family in Britain lost someone in that war - I had a great uncle who died at the Somme (They even got his name wrong on the stone) but spare me all the BS about great sacrifice.

The people who fought in the Napoleonic wars and the second world war may have been fighting to defend the UK from invasion but the first world war was about Empire and power.

As for your not being here - I don't understand that point at all, any one of your ancestestors could have missed meeting their spouse by stopping to pick up a penny what of it?

It would be nice to think that remebering the carnage of the Somme or Ypres or Pachandale or wherever would concentrate the minds of politicians to not let it happen again but PMs still lay wreaths at the Cenotaph and they still send British troops into foreign wars.

The Lions are still being lead by donkeys and all the prayers for the dead and 2 minutes of silence don't look like they'll change a damn thing