My Grandad fought at the Somme

A hundred years ago today he went over the top. Fifty thousand Allied troops died that morning. Over a million men were killed or wounded during the battle. He would talk about his war experiences in general but would never talk about the Somme - what he saw, heard, did. He never fought another land battle - after the Somme he signed up for the Royal Flying Corps, later to become the RAF, just as soon as he possibly could.

They said it was the war to end all wars. I wish they'd been right.

Posted By: Old Man on July 1st 2016 at 10:38:14

Message Thread

My Grandad fought at the Somme (General Chat) - Old Man, Jul 1, 10:38:14
- Mine fought in Mesopotamia against the Turks (General Chat) - derbyshire canary, Jul 1, 12:29:47
  - Early Mesopotamia campaign was horrid (General Chat) - CWC, Jul 1, 13:18:46
    - Grandad never talked about it, but ... (General Chat) - derbyshire canary, Jul 1, 13:43:15
- And mine... (General Chat) - yellowman, Jul 1, 11:54:39
  - Mum was a young girl ...... (General Chat) - yellowman, Jul 1, 12:14:05
- wife's grandfather made it through (General Chat) - CWC, Jul 1, 11:40:51
- Full respect to him and all that fought. We just held a service of remembrance in (General Chat) - Tony Martin, Jul 1, 11:35:55
- Full honour to him and all others who did that (General Chat) - Old Git, Jul 1, 11:30:31
- Tragic waste of human life......for what ? (n/m) (General Chat) - CROYDONCANARY, Jul 1, 11:29:53
- Mine too, 3rd battalion Norfolk Regiment, strange to think that 100 years ago...... (General Chat) - Kirrie, Jul 1, 11:09:03
- Some Somme pictures. (General Chat) - Chris Peacock, Jul 1, 10:48:01
  - Your numbers are right, mine weren't (General Chat) - Old Man, Jul 1, 11:51:05
  - That was just the 1st day - over a million killed or wounded in total (General Chat) - essexcanaryOTBC, Jul 1, 10:52:49
    - indeed (General Chat) - Chris Peacock, Jul 1, 11:18:09
  - Fucking lunacy. Sadly, we will never learn (n/m) (General Chat) - CB41, Jul 1, 10:51:01
    - Stronger together (General Chat) - essexcanaryOTBC, Jul 1, 11:40:44
- Mine always said he was grateful for having both his feet amputated (General Chat) - CB41, Jul 1, 10:47:24
- Lest we forget. (General Chat) - Bungle, Jul 1, 10:41:29
  - not quite poppies but you can purchase them after! (General Chat) - Jumbo1, Jul 1, 10:43:16

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