About this item
What really happened on the first day of the Somme?Much controversy has surrounded the Somme offensive relating to its justification and its impact upon the course of the war. General Sir Douglas Haig's policies have been the subject of considerable debate about whether the heavy losses sustained were worth the small gains that were achieved which appeared to have little strategic value.That was certainly the case on many sectors on 1 July 1916, where British soldiers were unable to cross No Man's Land and failed to reach, or penetrate into, the German trenches. In other sectors, however, breaches were made in the German lines culminating in the capture that day of Leipzig Redoubt, Mametz and Montauban.This book aims to highlight the failures and successes on that day and for the first time evaluate those factors that caused some divisions to succeed in capturing their objectives whilst others failed.
About the Author
Paul Kendall is a military historian from Kent specialising in the First World War. He is the author of three bestselling books 'Zeebrugge 1918: The Finest Feat of Arms' (The History Press 2008) , 'Bullecourt 1917: Breaching the Hindenburg Line' (The History Press 2010) , 'Aisne 1914: The Dawn of Trench Warfare'(The History Press 2012) , 'Somme 1916: Success and Failure on the First day of the Battle of the Somme' (Frontline Books, 2015) , The Battle of Neuve Chapelle: Britain's Forgotten Offensive in 1915, The Zeebrugge Raid 1918: Voices from the Past, Armistice 1918: Voices from the Past and Henry VIII in a 100 Objects.Reviews of Paul Kendall's booksThe Somme and its effect upon the British Army has been written upon and studied at length. Kendall's book is an excellent modern interpretation of this seminal batttle. His writing style is extremely engaging and his analysis clear and concise. He incorporates a myriad of first-hand accounts of individual experiences that add a level of intimacy to the narrative. His conclusion is balanced, and presents both sides of the ongoing debate surrounding the utility of the attack as well as the effectiveness of the Command staff with a historian's critical eye. The production value of the book itself is outstanding. (Military Reviewer) As Somme100 approaches a number of books about the Battle of the Somme have started to appear. Many of these offer little new or enlightening but Paul Kendall's new Somme 1916 (Frontline Books 2016, ISBN 978 1 84832 905 8, 442pp, maps/illustrations, hardback, £30.00) is a really excellent addition to our knowledge about the First Day of the Battle of the Somme, and indeed the Great War.The book looks at the entire Somme front on 1st July 1916, the day the battle began, and what became the Blackest Day in British Military History with more than 57,000 casualties. It begins with the background to the Somme offensive and then looks at the different sectors from North to South, starting at Gommecourt and ending with Montauban.Each chapter describes the fighting in that area in detail, and it is clear the author's research (as with his previous books) is really first rate as he has used a wide range of sources from War Diaries to German accounts. The area I know particularly well is Beaumont-Hamel; the chapter on that sector is one of the best I have read in a very long time. With good maps and some supporting images this is a superb book and essential for anyone studying the First Day of the Somme in this centenary year. (Paul Reed https://somme1916.wordpress.com/2016/04/06/book-review-somme-1916/) 'The first day of the Somme will always be the subject of controversy, but it is certain that no serious discussion can be held without consulting this important study.' (Britain at War Magazine) . 'Paul Kendall's book [Aisne 1914] sets a new standard in the publication of texts relating to the First World War
