The Battle of the Somme 1917 - a short review
Between 1 July and 18 November 1916 Britain's New Army took a leading role in a battle on the Western Front for the first time. This battle was intended to achieve a decisive victory for the Allies over the Germans after two years of trench deadlock.
 

The Battle of the Somme is famous chiefly on account of the loss of 57.470 British troops on this first day: 19.240 dead, 35.493 wounded, 2.152 missing and 585 men were made prisoner of war. A total which to this day remains a one-day record.

The attack was launched upon a 30 kilometre front, from north of the Somme river between Arras and Albert, and ran from 1 July until 18 November, when it was called off. An estimated 1,3 million men from both sides became casualties in the long and bitter battle and the war was to continue for another two years.

▬  © Pictures Hans de Regt   The photos of the slideshow were made during a  trip with the Western Front Association Nederland in 2005.