Two years in the making Ten minutes in the destruction – That was our history. John Harris Covenant with Death

The Battle of the Somme 1 st July to the 18 th November 1916 Nearly 450,000 casualties (killed, wounded or missing.) Over 57,000 casualties on the first day

Who fought the battle? On the British side – ‘the men of 1914’ Those who responded to the famous call –

Where did these men come from? They represented a cross section of British society – they were men who came from Town, city and countryside England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland Industrial and clerical Farming and Manufacturing Upper, middle and lower classes A variety of ages, from 14 to 45.

The ‘Pals’ battalions These were groups of men mainly from the Northern Industrial towns who joined up in groups – those who worked together, attended the same church, lived in the same street... In 1915 they trained together in the same camps, and many were killed together in 1916, they became part of...the Lost Generation...

The Thiepval Memorial 150,000 soldiers were killed on the Somme 73,000 have no known grave and are commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial

The Commemorations The 73,000 soldiers commemorated died on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 20 th A large proportion of the names are from the first few days of the battle of the Somme. Every regiment and corps of the British army are represented. Every rank from Private soldier to Brigadier- General is recorded. The London Regiment has the greatest number of names recorded – 4,340