Evidence
The magazine was published in October 1916.
The morale of the people at home was weakening and war weariness was becoming obvious. Some propaganda was needed to distract attention from the realities, and get people excited about war again.
The morale of the people at home was weakening and war weariness was becoming obvious. Some propaganda was needed to distract attention from the realities, and get people excited about war again.
Diary Entries
July 29th
"Heavy gun fire all round us and shells bursting in all directions. We are right in the 'Great Push' now. Walked over and viewed the 'Crater' an immense hole 300 feet across by 50 deep. The British tunnelled from a quarter of a mile back and stuck 60 tons of explosives under the spot and then fired it. Am told by an Officer who witnessed the burst that it was a sight of the war. There are plenty of sights to be seen yet in the Crater and Trenches in the shape of dead bodies and portions of them sticking out everywhere, fearful."
July 30th
"Heavy casualties coming to our M.O. Many men with nerves completely gone, crying like children with no control of themselves. A man killed a few yards from us. Anybody's turn now."
July 31st
"Heavy gun and shell fire continually going on, no slacking night or day. Doctors are kept busy and a cemetery has opened between two lines of guns and the pegs are rapidly increasing."
"Heavy gun fire all round us and shells bursting in all directions. We are right in the 'Great Push' now. Walked over and viewed the 'Crater' an immense hole 300 feet across by 50 deep. The British tunnelled from a quarter of a mile back and stuck 60 tons of explosives under the spot and then fired it. Am told by an Officer who witnessed the burst that it was a sight of the war. There are plenty of sights to be seen yet in the Crater and Trenches in the shape of dead bodies and portions of them sticking out everywhere, fearful."
July 30th
"Heavy casualties coming to our M.O. Many men with nerves completely gone, crying like children with no control of themselves. A man killed a few yards from us. Anybody's turn now."
July 31st
"Heavy gun and shell fire continually going on, no slacking night or day. Doctors are kept busy and a cemetery has opened between two lines of guns and the pegs are rapidly increasing."
Pictures
Each of these photographs was taken in the Somme River area, and each gives a similar visual perspective of a trench. Photo No 1 was taken in 1916. Photo No 2 was taken in 1989 at Beaumont Hamel Memorial Park.