The Somme, like Ypres, is chiefly remembered in British minds as the place where Owen’s ‘doomed youth’ met their deaths. The Somme sector, until 1916, had a reputation in British soldiers’ slang as a ‘cushy’ number, a quiet backwater where little happened. That all changed in 1916.
The French had faced a tremendous German offensive at Verdun since February, 1916. They called on their British allies to help relieve the pressure. The Somme offensive was Field Marshall Haig’s response.
In the last week of June, 1916, the British guns laid down an intense barrage on the German lines during which 1.5 million shells were fired. Haig was confident little would survive. Unfortunately, the very deep German dugouts and their wire were not destroyed.
Of the 100,000 men who took part in the first wave of attack at 7.30am on July 1st, 20,000 died and a further 40,000 were wounded in the first two hours as they faced devastating fire from the German machine guns. The offensive went on for a further five months for minimal gains but Verdun did not fall and German losses were equally terrible. Such was the balance sheet of the Great War.
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Key Study Areas
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Location Click here to view map
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History Excursions
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Our best value sample itinerary from £285
4 Days to the Somme by Coach
Day 1:
Depart school in the morning to meet your channel crossing. Arrive in the Somme and visit Lochnagar Crater at La Boiselle, before arriving at the accommodation.
Day 2:
Visit Vimy Ridge in Arras and then go on to have a guided tour of the Underground Tunnels in Arras. In the afternoon visit the Historial of the Great War museum in Peronne.
Day 3:
Visit the Somme 1916 Museum, Beaumont Hamel, Pozieres Thiepval and Delville Wood in the Somme.
Day 4:
Check out of your accommodation and depart for your return channel crossing and return to school.
