On this day 100 years ago the order went out at 07:30 to climb out of trenches and cross no-mans-land towards the German line. It was the start of the Battle of the Somme.
This battle became a by-word for idiotic generals driving men to their deaths.
'Rate of fire'; This was the rate a platoon/regiment/division could fire their weapons and reload. In the past this was a simple questions of numbers. The more men you had in the field who were advancing towards an opposing force, eventually you will get up close and overcome them by sheer maths.
But, this morning 100 years ago when the Scots Irish Welsh and English soldiers stood up they were mown down with machine-gun fire. Yes this had occurred before but the generals thought it was simply because they hadn't enough men to cross the distance and overcome the guns.
No, but it took another 100 days and 800,000 dead
On this day 100 years ago the IV British Army had 20,000 dead and 40,000 wounded. The French VI Army has 1,500 and the German 12,000.
This battle became a by-word for idiotic generals driving men to their deaths.
'Rate of fire'; This was the rate a platoon/regiment/division could fire their weapons and reload. In the past this was a simple questions of numbers. The more men you had in the field who were advancing towards an opposing force, eventually you will get up close and overcome them by sheer maths.
But, this morning 100 years ago when the Scots Irish Welsh and English soldiers stood up they were mown down with machine-gun fire. Yes this had occurred before but the generals thought it was simply because they hadn't enough men to cross the distance and overcome the guns.
No, but it took another 100 days and 800,000 dead
On this day 100 years ago the IV British Army had 20,000 dead and 40,000 wounded. The French VI Army has 1,500 and the German 12,000.
It's so easy for us to see numbers like that and not equate it to real people - husbands, fathers, sons... It makes my heart ache to think of all the soldiers who have died over the centuries. It's mind-boggling.
ReplyDeleteYes, that's true. We have difficulty with context. But it's the equivalent of a good sized football stadium like the bowl in Dallas.
DeleteThe numbers are staggering! World War I was horrific, not that any war isn't, but at least gas wasn't used in later wars, except Iraq and Iran and against striking American coal miners
ReplyDeleteEven today, there was absolutely no reason for it. Causes, Yes, there were many. Reasons, nope.
DeleteI've written this 3 times on my cell phone throughout the day and it hasn't posted for some reason.
ReplyDeleteAnyhow... The numbers are astounding, but as mentioned above incomprehensible. It's hard to wrap one's mind around the amount in any of the wars, really. I think your photos of the grave sites in (was it) Belgium is a good representation of the sheer numbers. All those markers really hit home.
Like with most in charge, decisions are much easier when you're not the one in the trenches.
The losses over that day was beyond belief. But what was even more unbelievable was the continuing of the battle until the mud stopped them in winter.
DeleteI've had net service issues here too.
I must try some net streaming though since I have fibre now, tips ?.