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Where to watch "The Somme 1916: From Both Sides of the Wire"
6. Private Veal VC
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Some fifty one Victoria Crosses, Britain's highest award for gallantry, were awarded during the Battle of the Somme in 1916. One of the most remarkable stories about the medal is that of Private Theodore Veal, who earned his medal in an action between High and Delville Woods on 20 July 1916.
5. The Snout
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Following a week long bombardment and an assault in daylight, the attack on 1st July was a failure. It was decided to attack the German second position at night following a hurricane bombardment. This is the story of a battalion's highly successful assault on the well defended Snout & how one of the few opportunities during the battle was lost when they were told 'To wait for the cavalry'.
4. Pommiers Redoubt
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Standing on a ridge a mile beyond the British front line stood the remains of an orchard around which the Germas had built defences; Pommiers Redoubt. This was the 1st July objective of 7th Bedfords of 18th New Army Division. General Ivor Maxsehad trained and prepared his men well and the result was a success, which if replicated elsewhere could have delivered a very different story of the Somme.
3. Mansel Copse
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On the southern battlefield there was success. Here two battalions of the Devonshire Regiment attacked from Mansel Copse. By the end of the day they had secured their objective but at a terrible cost. Mansel copse is famous for Capt Martin's 'Danger spot' model, Lt Hodgeson's poem 'Before action' and the cross 'The Devonshires held this trench the Devonshires hold it still'.
2. The Sunken Lane
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Immortalised by cameraman Geoffrey Malins' footage of the Lancashire Fusilier's assault on Beaumont Hamel on 1st July 1916, the attack from the Sunken Lane out in the middle of No-Man's-Land was a costly failure. During the course of the programme, which follows the battle, we analyses the reasons for German success and British defeat on this crucial sector of the Somme front.
1. Background and Plans
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This programme explains the origins and changing aims of this most iconic of British battles, along with its strategic and tactical objectives that General Haig and his fellow commanders so earnestly hoped for of the great offensive mounted in the summer of 1916.
