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)