stu Posted 2 December , 2004 Share Posted 2 December , 2004 I have British battalions on the Somme by Ray Westlake,if anyone needs a look up just ask. Stu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desmond7 Posted 2 December , 2004 Share Posted 2 December , 2004 I am interested in the front cover pic ... if it's the cover with the fifers leading troops along a road. Can you tell me if there is any caption available? Thanks Des Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stiletto_33853 Posted 2 December , 2004 Share Posted 2 December , 2004 Des, All it says about the front photograph (drummers and fifers) is jacket photograph "Taylor Library" Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Morgan Posted 3 December , 2004 Share Posted 3 December , 2004 Ray Westlake says the picture shows the fifes and drums of the 1st Battalion, the Welsh Guards. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roger Posted 3 December , 2004 Share Posted 3 December , 2004 I am interested in the front cover pic ... if it's the cover with the fifers leading troops along a road. Can you tell me if there is any caption available? Thanks Des I know what you were thinking Des Welsh Guards! Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desmond7 Posted 3 December , 2004 Share Posted 3 December , 2004 Having seen the cover image on Google, I was hoping it was a 36th DIV unit! Worth the try!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roger Posted 3 December , 2004 Share Posted 3 December , 2004 I was hoping it was a 36th DIV unit! Thats what I thought you were thinking Roger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu Posted 13 December , 2004 Author Share Posted 13 December , 2004 Dave 59, Have sent you some scans via email. Regards. Stu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustinL Posted 14 December , 2004 Share Posted 14 December , 2004 Hello Stu, My grandfather narrowly missed the Battle of the Somme. A second lieutenant in the 2nd Middlesex, he left the front in May 1916 with severe shell shock. However, his photoalbum has several photos of friends with the annotation 'Died Somme 1st July'. I have read somewhere that of the 600 men of the 2nd Middlesex that went over the top at 7.30 only 22 came back. What does your book say about the casualties? The thought of this slaughter sends a chill down my spine. If my gf had served another six weeks, I would not be here ... Justin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOMMESOLDIER Posted 14 December , 2004 Share Posted 14 December , 2004 Hi Justin, I have a copy too and I've just looked up the 2nd Middlesex and it says:- ' 23rd Brigade, 8th Division: On right of 23rd Brigade's attack up Mash Valley towards Ovilliers. Only 1 of the 23 Officers that moved forward at zero hour returned unwounded and among the 650 NCO's and men that went over the top, just 50 were ably to answer roll call. Withdrew to bivouacs near Millencourt (2/7)'. In Martin Middlebrook's The First Day On The Somme He gives these figures:- Officers 23, Men 517, Total 540. It is incredible to see from his list that even with those casualty figures, 17 Battalions suffered higher casualty rates than them. Cheers Tim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustinL Posted 15 December , 2004 Share Posted 15 December , 2004 Hello Tim, Thank you for the looking up the figures. The slaughter is truly unimaginable! Which do you think is the more authoritative source? Do MM's figures ( Officers 23, Men 517, Total 540) refer to casualties, i.e. dead and wounded? Does he say how many rose out of the trenches that morning? Justin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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