The Battle of the Somme — Part 3

The Big Push

July 1st 1916 was the date selected by General Haig to launch his ‘big push’ and break through the German lines. To this end there had been continuous shelling of the German trenches for a week. Haig was assured that this unprecedented bombardment would have killed most of the German defenders and demoralized those who remained alive. The General Staff expected it be a ‘walk in the park’ and ordered the infantry to carry many days of supplies with them, to ensure that the advance could continue. Each infantryman was laden with up to 75lbs (35kg) of…