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British armies launched gigantic attacks on Somme 1916
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British armies launched gigantic attacks on Somme 1916
On 16 July 1916, after an intensive bombardment, the British armies launched a series of gigantic attacks on the Somme, which persisted until November. Troops advanced to the attack over ground pulverised by artillery. Spades were carried, for trenches were everywhere wrecked and battered, and fresh ones had to be dug after every attack.
July 1916
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Media ID 14141533
© Mary Evans Picture Library
Advanced Armies Attacking Attacks Bombardment Carried Forward Gigantic Launched Somme Spades
EDITORS COMMENTS
On the morning of July 16, 1916, the British armies prepared for one of the most significant and costly battles of World War I. After an intensive artillery bombardment that lasted for days, the troops were ordered to advance on the German lines at the Somme. The ground was pulverized by the relentless shelling, leaving trenches wrecked and battered. Soldiers carried spades, ready to dig new trenches after each attack. In this powerful image from the Mary Evans Picture Library, British soldiers are seen advancing forward, determined and resolute in the face of the unknown. The muddy terrain and the heavy weight of equipment they carried were only a few of the challenges they would face in the days and weeks to come. The Battle of the Somme, which persisted until November, would result in over one million casualties, making it one of the bloodiest battles in human history. This poignant photograph serves as a reminder of the immense sacrifices made by the soldiers on the Western Front during World War I.
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