1 July 1916, Albert Rudham, Age 27, Middlesex Regiment.

[jim1]

Lack of communication, lack of shells. Many men lost their lives because the Artillery covering the battle ran out of shells.
Often Batt. C.O's didn't know what was happening on their flanks or even knew where their own men were because of poor or no communication.
The biggest problem was a lack of a plan B.

[mirl]

The Somme offensive of July 1916 was designed to take German attention away from Verdun where the French were being freely massacred.

The problem was that the Germans held the only high ground on a vast plain and saw the whole thing coming.

The only consolation, if you can call it such when you're talking about human life, was that the Germans lost just as many soldiers as we did.

[Leo Ruddham]

It's the same old story. The generals and politicians sit on their comfortable chairs, in their regal surroundings making decisions that cost lives. War has no winners.