Author: McCarthy, Chris.
Title: The Somme : the day-by-day account.
Description: London : Brockhampton, 2001. Hardcover. Dustjacket. 176 pp. Mailorder only - Alleen verzending mogelijk. Book condition : very good. From the publisher : The Battle of the Somme has become a byword for the cruel, relentless flinging of men across shell-torn and blasted mud against impregnable defences our common perception of the First World War. On the chalky, gently undulating land of the River Somme, the British Army sought a vital breakthrough. Preceded by a week long bombardment, the troops went 'over the top' on I July 1916 and walked to their deaths. For, scarcely affected by this massive shelling, the men of the German Second Army emerged from their deep shelters to scythe the advancing men down like so much corn. With 60,000 casualties on the first day alone, the scene was set for a protracted and bloody struggle until November 1916, with British troops sent time after time against the enemy defences and German counter-attacks repeatedly made to retake lost ground. Five months of relentless attack advanced the line seven miles at a cost of a million casualties between the protagonists - more than 100 men for every yard gained. This remarkable new book presents a detailed chronicle of the battle, day by day, unit by unit. Here it is possible to identify distinct stages in the whole battle and the changing tactics employed. A student of the Great War over many years, Chris McCarthy has achieved an impressive feat of research and record by tracing the actions, movements and fate of every unit involved in the five-month Somme conflict, He has done so down to individual trench level, recording the objectives of regiments and brigades along the Somme front and the results of their attacks-on a daily basis Coverage of each month of the Somme battle is self-contained, with an overall introduction to the fighting in that month, a list of regiments and corps involved on both sides of the lines and a breakdown of the individual battles for corps objectives that characterized the campaign. Each day begins with detail on weather conditions, corps involved in the particular battles, objectives, the regiments fielded and a brigade-by-brigade analysis of movements and achievements. The day-by-day layout is illustrated by a fine selection of photographs, many previously unpublished and all carefully linked to show specific details of each month's fighting. Equally important, how ever, are the nearly fifty maps illustrating trench names, fortresses and strongpoints, jumping-off points, objectives and gains made. For the first time it is possible to read about the progress of a specific Brit ish brigade through reserve trenches, front lines, no-man's-land and captured enemy positions and to trace that unit on compre hensive maps. With an introduction by respected authority Peter Simkins, this fascinating book is a significant new approach to the conflict of 1916 and a practical guide for anyone wishing to see and understand how the battle evoived. ISBN 9781860198731.

Keywords: HISTORY, World War, 1914-1919.