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The Battle of the Somme

on BBC Two England

Leo McKern walks the fields of Picardy and retells the story of one of the greatest battles of the First World War.
July 1st 1916 - the first day of the Battle of the Somme - was the worst day in British military his- tory. In less than 24 hours 60.000 British soldiers became casualties; and nearly 20,000 of them died. The battle dragged on for another four and a half months. It turned a gracious part of northern France into a landscape like the moon's. It produced anger and cynicism, but also incredible gallantry and courage. During it 1,200,000 British, French and Germans were killed or wounded.
A worthyand moving memorial to the bloodiest battle in our history
(YORKSHIRE POST)
A devastating documentary
(SUNDAY TIMES)
A superb condemnation of the futility Of war (EVENING NEWS) Historical consultant MARTIN MIDDLEBROOK Written and produced by MALCOLM BROWN
(On BBCl on Thursday I November: Armistice)

Contributors

Unknown:
Leo McKern
Unknown:
Martin Middlebrook
Produced By:
Malcolm Brown

BBC Two England

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