The Somme 1916

The Old Front Line, Attack on the Somme, Holts Pocket Guide Somme Pals on the Somme 1916, Cheshire Bantams, Sheffield Pals, Bradford Pals, Germans at Thiepval, Germans at Beaumont Hamel, First Day on the Somme, Walking the Somme. Will appeal to military and family enthusiasts interested in Salfords rich local history.

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Salford was late in recruiting for its Pals battalions, with many of its men already joining Territorial units and a new Pals battalion in Manchester. Yet within a year it had raised four Pals battalions and a reserve battalion. Raised mainly from Lancashires most notorious slums, the men trained together in Wales, North East England and on Salisbury Plain, they had great expectations of success.

On the 1st of July 1916 the Somme offensive was launched and in the very epicentre of that cauldron the first three of Salfords battalions were thrown at the massive defences of Thiepval - the men were decimated, Salford was shattered.

Michael Stedman records the impact of the war from the start on Salford and follows the difficulties and triumphs. Whether the actions small or great the author writes graphically about them all.

Unusual photographs and a variety of sources make this both a readable and a scholarly account.