
The Somme
The Darkest Hour on the Western Front
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Narrated by:
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Mark Ashby
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By:
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Peter Hart
The Somme: these words conjure the image of war rigidly fought by traditional means even when catastrophe clearly loomed. Relying on personal testimonies never before published, this study of those who survived the first day of battle (July 1, 1916) captures this epic conflagration from all angles. Follow the action as soldiers crawl across No Man’s Land in the face of German guns, struggle with the conditions in the trenches, and survey the scene from the air as the RFC tries to control the skies above the battlefield.
©2008 Peter Hart (P)2013 Audible, Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...




















Editorial reviews
With never-before-revealed firsthand accounts of World War I survivors, this is a comprehensive look at the Battle of Somme, one of the largest of the war, which took place on July 1, 1916. Listeners will be stunned by immediacy of Peter Hart's writing - it vividly evokes the battlefields, the trenches, and the fear of the soldiers fighting in the war. Especially striking are, of course, the personal testimonies of survivors. Mark Ashby's clear-as-a-bell narration adds a bit of calm to this gripping audiobook experience.
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Unfathomable horror
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Good history of an important battle
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Western Front’s bloodiest battle
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Unending horror
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The human aspect of war
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The Somme kaleidoscope
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A brutal war!
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The British had only a small army as it always relied upon its navy to fight its wars. Prior wars in Europe the British primarily control the ocean and relied on its allies to fight on land. In World War One the British had to quickly build an army so it depended heavily on its colonies to man the army. The 1st Newfoundland Regiment of the Canadian Army was virtually wiped out at Beaumont Hamel on the first day of the battle July 1, 1916. The Canadian army lost 24,713 men at the Somme. Most people have never heard of Delville Wood, but if you mention it in South Africa you will find it is still a place of fame, only 780 out of 3153 men in the South African Regiment survived the battle. A comprehensive study of the battle of the Somme (1916) found that a million combatants were killed/wounded. The British Army learned to fight in the campaign with numerous innovations such as walking artillery fire, and tanks were used for the first time.
The Somme occupies a hallowed place in British memory comparable to Gallipoli for Australians or Gettysburg for Americans, but on a much bigger scale. With just under a half million causalities this was the costliest battle the British Army has ever fought. As I listened to this as an audio book, I used the internet for maps and pictures of the battle of the Somme. I understand the actual book contained many pictures and maps. Mark Ashby did an excellent job narrating the book. This is a must read book for anyone studying the battle of the Somme.
A fateful day
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Simply Brilliant.
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Amazing Book
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