Battle Of The Somme: Weather Conditions

[Weather-history]

90 years ago on the 1st of July 1916, the first Battle of the Somme began. The battle itself was supposed to have started on the 29th of June 1916 but rain forced a delay on the battle and it began instead on the 1st of July

Weather chart for 1st of July 1916

http://www.wetterzentrale.de/archive/slp/1...slp19160701.gif

It was the battle with the greatest recorded number of military casualties with a total of 1,043,896: Allied 623,907; 419,989 Germans.

The noise of the barrages could be heard on Hampstead Heath in London

Here's a website which has what the weather conditions were like for each day of the battle

http://www.ramsdale.org/timeline.htm

Remember those who died 90 years ago

Edited June 29, 2006 by Mr_Data

[johnholmes]

indeed we should remember. Its almost impossible, even watching footage of the First World War, the total carnage and sheer terror most went through.

Through it all the Generals took tea and watched from a distance.

Says it all really.

[kold weather]

Indeed John the events that ahppened that day are probably beyond most of our imaginations, certainly mine anyway. We must indeed remember.

[Weather-history]

August 2nd: 88'(max) -57'(min) Hottest day so far in the battle of the Somme.

It must have been horrific fighting under these conditions in the trenches with the dead decomposing and rats thriving

[Weather-history]

When you go home tell of them us and say for your tomorrow we gave our today."

[johnholmes]

yes today is the time to remember all those who have given their lives for their country. 11am=2 minutes quiet to do just that.

[Rustynailer]

There are just 5 people who fought in the first world war still alive in this country. The world was completely different after that war. The change those surviving soldiers must have seen, I hope they have enjoyed there lives since that war, they deserved to have.

Regards,

Russ

[mettalfabrik]

even today the somme is remembered with dread in my family,as my grandfather on my dads side died in one of the many battles there

may they all rest in peace

[Weather-history]

[MeteoMadrid]

Somme 1918

[Yeti]

Lest we forget those who died for our freedom.

Duty, honour, sacrifice. This is what we remember on the 11th of November.

[Weather-history]

[Snowkissed]

Thank you Mr Data for posting that link. My Grandfather fought at the Somme. He told the story of seeing the Angels appear through the veil of mist. He recieved a bullet in his back trying to rescue a wounded soldier, but lived to tell the tale. I was very moved to watch this video.

[Weather-history]

He told the story of seeing the Angels appear through the veil of mist. .

Yes I have heard stories about this, the Angels of Mons.

[johnholmes]

the bald statistics are just hard to comprehend-a visit to any of those battle fields is also very very sobering. To look at some of the memorials and the numbers involved is again hard to comprehend.

I find it difficult to make any constructive comment regarding any war and the losses involved by any nation, now or then.

[GRHinPorts]

I recently paid a visit to Ypres and went to Tyncott cemetery. Very moving.

The war to end all wars they said. Since November 11 1918 there has been armed conflict somewhere in the world of every day of every year