First World War - Serre

The battlefield of Serre filmed from the air. On the 1st July 1916 it was an objective for the first day. It was never captured. The Sheffield and Accrington pals attacked, and many died here.

[@misterbacon4933]

Really a beautiful technique with a drone to look at the fields. Amazing different point of view. Also the editing and your commentary is really impressive. Great job!

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching.

[@Jin-Ro]

They do an incredible job maintaining those cemeteries. Hat of to them.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission certainly certainly does an excellent job. For a hundred years quietly getting on with it.

[@jiveassturkey8849]

Have you ever seen the Meuse Argonne American cemetery in France? It is beautiful.

[@wallyhaskett6737]

Mr. Steven Upton, Thank you so much for bring these amazing videos and some of the history 100 years ago. These are so enjoyable and please keep bringing new videos. Your work is splendid and spot on. Keep up this great work. I thank you so much.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching and your encouraging feedback. I will be doing some more filming in December.

[@lestaylor8572]

Great video Steve and especially interesting for me. My grandfather (private in the 13th East Yorkshire’s ) was killed on 13th November 1916 attacking in front of Serre. He was initially posted as missing and his death confirmed later in that month. He is buried in Euston Road cemetery just outside Colincamps.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you fro watching. Sorry for your families loss. We will remember them.

[@PathfinderHistoryTravel]

I traveled to France to visit the D-Day beaches and then go to Bastogne to see the Battle of the Bulge sites. As I planned the drive I realized I would pass through the Somme. It was quite an unplanned bonus to see this area on that trip. I stayed in Albert and toured the area. This Serre battlefield has stayed in my memory more than most. Standing in those woods with a breeze blowing through was a unique experience. Thank you for these videos. Well done.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching. The last time I went to Normandy was in 1994. I took my father for the 50th anniversary. He was a D Day veteran.

[@JazzBoAd]

Addie : Mr. Upton....... I have just come upon your videos...One could not expect presentations of those 1914-1918 battles to be presented any more clearly than the way you have done it. Have only seen three to date but I will certainly try to see as many as I can find. thank you for creating them and making them available to everyone....much appreciated.....Thank you so much.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching and your comments.

[@jacobgur779]

Brilliant. Thank you. The Barnsley pals were also there next to the Sheffield pals. Just inside the woods.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching, and your input.

[@tompatchen6508]

Fascinating and tragic. I'd love to be part of a tour led by you to visit the battlefields of WWI. Thank you.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching.

[@rightmarker1]

My Grandfather was there with the Accrington Pals. He lost nearly all his childhood friends. The population of his little home village of Barrowford was devastated by the loss of the men. The survivors told the womenfolk about the horrors of it all - they didn’t believe them. So they stopped telling them. Thank you for the video.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching and sharing. Sadly the same thing happened to many of the 'Pals Battalions.' After this they stopped creating them.

[@anthonyeaton5153]

My late friend Stanley Bewsher won the MM with Accrington Pals on the 1st of July.

[@Raggadish.]

Hello Steven, I really appreciate you videos. Have seen them several times over to plan trips and walks. The drone footage gives such good information about the sites and the landscape, as well as the actual battle. Keep up the good work, I hope to see even more videos in the future.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching. Unfortunately on my last trip I lost my drone and until I can afford a new one there will be no more aerial films. I might do some ground filming in the meantime.

[@TheyForcedMyHandLE]

Beautiful innocuous fields now. Difficult to imagine them with so much brutality and destruction.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching.

[@anthonyeaton5153]

Steven did you receive my reply re my VC signature collection.Tony Eaton

[@Kariakas]

Very informative, really enjoying these videos. Really helps to see these visuals as opposed to just reading about these events. Next best thing to visiting in person.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching.

[@paulellam6926]

All the books I read, your videos bring those stories to life, many thanks, great work!

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching.

[@marko11kram]

these ariel views are very helpful! one suggestion, would be more compass directions (in the audio) as you narrate

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching and your suggestion for improvement. Not thought of that one.

[@grahammosdall5442]

Thank you. These videos are very informative. You said about the shadow or ghost trenches. It looks like in some of your videos there are lots of shadow or ghost shell craters as well. Perfect illustration of how deadly these battlefields and no man's land really was. I can imagine there are still lots of soldiers and unexploded shells yet to be found still in these fields.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching. Thousands of unexploded shells are found every year. Last statistic I came across stated that every year the remains of about 12 British soldiers are found and given military funerals.

[@grahammosdall5442]

@@StevenUpton14-18 Wow, I did think there would be but I had no idea it would be this many. Thank you again. I found your channel by pure chance. I'm so glad I did.

[@lizbuckland4163]

My great great uncle was took part in this and with the Accrington Pals, he was fatally wounded in Serres road no.2 Trench but did manage to make it to the hospital at Estaple but unfortunately he passed away just after the Armistice and is buried in the big cemetery there. When I visited the area whilst on honeymoon with my husband we were driving along the road and I suddenly had a strong feeling I needed to stop and go to that area, I later found out from my Aunt about how it was where my g.g Uncle fought and was wounded...

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching and sorry for your families loss.

[@sugarkane4830]

Was at Serre rd no 2 cem in December. Lest we forget.

[@davidmurray5399]

I enjoy watching your Somme videos in concert with Martin and Mary Middlebrook's Guide to THE SOMME BATTLEFIELDS. Informative and evocative.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching.

[@danielcooper4700]

These videos really help get your head around the geography of the battlefields, and they teach you a thing or two as well. I'm planning a trip over there soon so really pleased I found your work.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching. I hope your trip comes off. I have had to cancel so many this year.

[@BillSikes.]

I visited Serre Rd British Military Cemetery, it was next to a road, there was another British cemetery across the road and a French one a little bit further up the road, I saw so many I regret not making a record of them, all over a long weekend when I visited the memorial at Theipval for the centenary of the Armistice back in 2018 Great work fella 👍

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching.

[@HenryBrewerCalvert]

Fantastic video and narration! You’re clearly knowledgeable and quite helpful in your explanation. Much appreciated.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching.

[@tooyoungtobeold8756]

Fantastic use of a drone. I have walked the Somme many times, as my grandfather fought here in September 1916. Finally getting seriously wounded in front of lesbeoufs on Sept 16 1916.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching. My own GF was also there in Sep. 16. Fortunately he survived the whole war.

[@superbia75es]

Watching again, Steven. Going back there in a fortnight, visit No 5. Small point...at the start you say Newfoundland Park was on the horizon in the distance. My sense of direction says that's Auchonvillers, given we can see Serre Road No2 on the left of the shot; it's so massive, of course we can see it. Horrifying. Newfoundland Park is way over to the left, out of shot, as is Beaumont Hamel. Or am I going mad? 🤔

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching. You could be right. I have not re-looked at it but it is easy to check against a map. If I am wrong, then yo are the first to spot it.

[@superbia75es]

@@StevenUpton14-18 Absolutely not a criticism, Steven. Google Earth confirms I am not going mad. Lol.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

@@superbia75es - No problem, I did not take it as criticism.

[@Mod-rw9cw]

My great grandfather is still out there somewhere on the Somme he was killed on the first day and they never found him.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching. His name should be on the Theipval memorial. See kzbin.info/www/bejne/lanFZIGHrcmprbc

[@DanChaytor]

Just a quick one - when the drone takes of it is flying south, not due north

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching. Flying south, my takeoff point is just to the right of John copse in no-mans land (see trench map on film). The trees on the right are the former Mark, Luke and John copse's. They have grown into one wood since the war.

[@romeo9017]

My grandfather is buried at Toulley-les-Mouflianes - tended by CWGC from Yorkshire! Small, tranquil and perfect.....

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching. The CWGC do a great job.

[@sherrymiller2302]

What it must have been like to know you (the soldier) are commanded to leave your trench and march into a hail of bullets....

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching.

[@kensimdall705]

Excellent work. Very interesting and puts in to perspective the large scale of the area, of the Somme battlefield. RIP all the men who lost their lives during that awful Battle.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching.

[@Cards-In-The-Closet]

Sorry for my ignorance, but why so many cemeteries? We they mass graves during the time of the battle?

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching. After the war both Germany and France cleared the battlefields and had a smaller number of larger cemeteries. The British had a different philosophy: whilst some of the smaller and most of the individual graves were concentrated, we buried most soldiers near to where they died. There are just under 1,000 British cemeteries in France and Belgium. Also, for every grave you see there is another soldier without one. Only about half of those killed have a grave. Many church burial grounds in the UK also have WW1 graves.

[@IntrepidMilo]

My great-grandfather was from Sheffield and fought in the war. He may have even been in the Sheffield Pals and he may have even been at the Battle of the Somme. I don't know a lot of war records were destroyed during the bombing of London during the second world war.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching. Many public records were lost during the blitz; however, if you have his full name, DOB you may be able to get some information from the MOD.

[@B50Stevie]

Great video, would have liked to have seen the memorial to the Accrington Pals (built with the famous Accrington brick) which is just in front of the Sheffield memorial, but nevertheless really good views of the Somme, very informative.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching.

[@sifridbassoon]

Thanks so much! That technology is really well suited for presentations like this! Do you have any plans to collect all your videos and possibly produce a CD. I would be very interested in buying it. Especialy if there were text, maps etc.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching. Interesting idea. I regard this as a hobby and I am happy to post them on KZbin with no adverts.

[@jetaddicted]

1:43 the field owner does not drive his machines near the tombs, that is a respectful gesture.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching. There is also a wall around the cemetery to prevent encroachment by farm machinery.

[@ianharding3139]

Excellent and informative piece. TY.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@robtaylor8304]

Hi Steve, can you advise on how to obtain permission to use a drone on the battlefields? I am taking a party in May and have formulated a pack of satellite images, original trench maps and aerial photographs, but wanted to combine this research with a drone flyover. Thanks for your helpRob

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Not sure how to answer this without incriminating myself! I try to be a responsible flyer and have a good look round and only fly at times when there are few or no people around. On the Somme it is mostly open countryside, so no worry about bothering someone. Other than being mindful of other people I do not actually get permission to fly. Not sure who you would actually ask. Try to be respectful of cemeteries and that a battlefield is also the last resting place of so many. I think that publicising these events is important and until France bans their use I intend to continue flying and filming.

[@robtaylor8304]

Thanks Steve, I only asked as like you, I am a responsible flyer, however, as a precaution, I looked into the drone laws in France and Belgium and it looks like it is now illegal to fly a drone without a license unless on your own property and this is restricted to 30ft. It is a shame because flying the drone during our investigation was a big part of our selling point. I placed an order for the new Maveric Pro, but had to cancel this in panic of the laws. I was contemplating just taking it, but a bit worried now. What do you think? Rob

[@StevenUpton14-18]

I wonder what will happen if you just carry on until stopped?

[@robtaylor8304]

I think I am just going to take our drone in May and see what happens. Like you, I will fly in quiet times. If we get stopped, I'll just plead ignorant and pack it away. I'll will of course, let you know how we get on. Thanks for your help Steve, and take care

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Rob Taylor I am over there every other month, also Switzerland. I want to film more at Verdun and in Belgium. I will try to be discreet and see what happens.

[@anthonyeaton5153]

Although I don’t collect medals I have great interest in them. May I ask which medals from each war you own. Many thanks, Tony Eaton.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching. I have a small collection of medals from the Boer war, WW1, WW2 and Falklands war. Also14 family medals from a GG-uncle, G-uncle, grand father and father. I have a MC, MID group from WW1 and a WW1 MM.

[@anthonyeaton5153]

Interesting collection when they are family awards. I presume you have their service service records. I have no medals but I do have the signatures of last four UK VCs winners. My late friend Edward Cooper VC some years ago ( he died in 1985) sent me the address of the three other remaking VC holders. They were Admiral (Lt) Sir Sir Victor Crutchley KCB DSC won in March Ostend 1918 HMS Vindictive. Air Commodore (Captain) Felix West CBE MC won August 1918 Roye over the Somme 8 Squadron RAF Lt.col (Lt) Donald Dean OBE won September 1918 Lens France Royal West Kent Regiment. Major (Sgt) Edward Cooper won August 1917 Langamarck Belgium 12 th KRRC I wrote to each enclosing a post card asking for their signatures and to my astonishment they all replied by return of post. They are all framed and mounted in my little office/mini museum named The Dugout and have pride of place. In the centre of the quartet there is a VC-GC Xmas card sent to me by Edward and has inside a I already had Edward Coopers signature with a photo of him in his Sgt uniform. He visited my house along with. Former Mahir and Lt veterans.

[@anthonyeaton5153]

I sent it wrongly. It should read a former major and a Lt. Inside the framed quartet is an Xmas card sent to me by Edward Cooper which has a photograph of Sir John Smith VC MC with the Queen Mother. Regards, Tony Eaton.

[@lescalverley8335]

My paternal Grandfather who was in the 95th Co. Machine Gun Corps in the 5th Division won the Military Medal in April 1918 during the defence of Nieppe Forest. Have you any drone footage of the Hazebrouck area?

[@StevenUpton14-18]

The closest I have filmed to Nieppe is St Ives, where my own GF first entered the trenched in 1915, just in front of Plugstreet wood. Do you still have his medals in the family?

[@needmorecowbell6460]

Steve. I have a second cousin my grandmothers cousin who served in the 6th battalion Wiltshire regiment and he was killed on 10/11/1917 and don’t know much … his name resides on a plaque in tyne cot cemetery. Do you know anything about this regiment and where they fought on the Passchendaele battle field. Im assuming it was passchendeale . Any info will help. Ty. Im from the united states and have british family.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Looks like they had heavy casualties during the Third Battle of Ypres: Early in 1917 the 6th (Service) Battalion were in the line at Hebuterne, near Thiepval, moving to the Ypres salient in April. In June they took party in the successful attack on Messines Ridge, gaining all their objectives. A period of trench warfare was followed by heavy fighting on the Passchendaele Ridge. On the 20th September they captured and held a position in front of Hollebeke Chateau. Casualties were heavy and the battalion was reinforced by 25 officers and 350 other ranks of the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry, who had been dismounted. They became the 6th (Royal Wiltshire) Yeomanry) Battalion. This arrangement worked well as many of the men in both units came from the same towns and villages in Wiltshire.

[@wasimodoone]

Hi du, which drone are you filming with?

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching. I did this one with a Phantom 3 with 2.4k camera. I now have a Mavic Pro with 4k camera.

[@BC-li6zc]

He mentions the Newfoundland Regiment disaster. Well for those who don't know on the 1st of July they attacked with 800 men only 68 were left by the next morning.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching.

[@anthonyeaton5153]

They were total casualties

[@johnoneill4483]

I was in Sheffield wood mid 90's, in the condolence book was this, ' here's to the memory of 'all' those that died in the battle of the Somme, due to the incompetence and stupidity of the British High command!' 100 years later, the rancour still runs deep!

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching.

[@dougsiddall5624]

Why no mention of Barnsley pals?

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching. No reason for not mentioning the Barnsley Pals, just an oversight.

[@jeffersonkee6440]

Thank you so much for your video.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching.

[@johnathanlewis2049]

In the movie 1917 it’s mentioned about the Germans abandoned their trenches and moved back to a new line very deep with heavy fortifications and such

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching. On the 9th February 1917 the Germans did make a strategic withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line. It was called Operation Alberich. They practiced a 'scorched earth' policy and did leave behind booby traps (in this respect the film is accurate). Their withdrawal was a complete success in that the British did not know it had happened. Just one morning they noticed that it was very quiet and found the opposing trenches empty. They pulled back a considerable distance shortening the front by 25 miles. It released 14 less divisions which were moved into reserve.

[@johnathanlewis2049]

@@StevenUpton14-18 - the movie showed that the Germans had destroyed their trenches and the big guns behind the lines.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

@@johnathanlewis2049 I am fairly certain that the Germans would not destroy their own artillery. They went to great lengths to save them.

[@generalbooger9146]

Where would the Artillery be? How far back? Anything survive in way of Narrow Railway's or anything similar that supplies the Front-lines?

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching. There is an operational light railway on the Somme. You can have a ride on it. The artillery will be from not far behind the front to several miles depending upon the range of the gun. The Germans shelled Paris from 80 miles away.

[@generalbooger9146]

@@StevenUpton14-18 thanks.

[@jadenova]

So the paler areas in the fields would be where the trenchers were?

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Look for a different colour soil that runs in lines, but not straight lines. Thank you for watching.

[@seanmccann8368]

From a descendant of men who served with the South Irish Horse and The Leinster Regiment - 'Ar dheis Dé go raibh siad ' - ' May they sit on Gods right hand'.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching.

[@elijacobson3896]

Thank you. Wonderful.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching.

[@mattking241]

Even though WW1 saw the worst of humanity, the way the Commonwealth War Graves Commission represents the best. What a great job they do.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching. We will remember them.

[@davidhunt3808]

The battle fields are now arable land but in amongst these fields are numerous cemeteries . The respect for the fallen is a great thing !!

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching. In France and Belgium there are just under 1,000 British and Commonwealth War cemeteries. Then add to that French, German, Belgian, Italian, Portuguese, Polish and American.

[@davidhunt3808]

@@StevenUpton14-18 The thing your aerial videos show is just how close the two sides were in distance but the Germans always had an advantage perched on a hill able to scan the battlefield and position their machine guns in exactly the right spot as to cause the most casualties and death .

[@StevenUpton14-18]

@@davidhunt3808 In some places they were within grenade throwing distance, whilst in others up to a mile apart. As the Germans were retreating in 1914 after the first battle of the Marne they were able to choose where to stop and dig in. High ground was very much fought over by all sides as it gave good views over the enemy for artillery spotting. Today we have drones.

[@ronaldwhite1730]

Thank you . ( 2024 / May / 17 )

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching.

[@georgedoolittle7574]

Nothing more amazing than "Historians on Napoleon" given the Western Front during the Great War. That a 2nd World War would still happen anyways remains quite the impossible to believe thing I think.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching.

[@loafersheffield]

There is a very well researched novel that received great critical acclaim, covering the original Sheffield Pals Regiment. "Covenant with Death" (John Harris) Loosely based on the true story, only the main characters being fictional. I read it last year. Very moving. Read it. You will be a better person for having done so - Peter Hitchens (Daily Mail) One of the five best novels about warfare - Christopher Hitchens. (Guardian) If both those brothers agree on something, it must be good.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching and information about the book.

[@Rocky-xx2zg]

Hard to believe soo beutiful today, and the slaughter that occurred here in 1916. Many 1,000 of your men's lives watsed. Very , very sad.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching.

[@lescalverley8335]

I was given his MM, campaign medals and other artefacts after his death in August 1968.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

That's a wonderful family heirloom, you must be very proud of him. I am fortunate to have four groups of medals from my family including GF's WW1 and fathers WW2.

[@anthonyeaton5153]

To whom are you referring re the MM. Thank you

[@rogueriderhood1862]

Thanks for posting this. My grandfather served on this sector of the line in the 14th York and Lancaster Regiment, 2nd Barnsley Pals. He was evacuated to England, sick, on the 25th June, 1916, an illness that possibly saved his life. His stepbrother, who served in the same battalion, was killed on the 1st July. Grandad was posted back to France in January 1917 and served in the Third Battle of Ypres, Passchendaele, which he was lucky enough to survive.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching. My GF was a couple of miles further along the line from here on 1st July. Fortunately his battalion was in reserve and was not called upon that day.

[@knockshinnoch1950]

Another fascinating and informative video. It really does illustrate the small distances between opposing sides and the terrain over which they fought. It also really emphasises the sheer madness of it. These poor guys were sacrificed on what was a suicide mission. It makes my blood boil. These kids were butchered.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching.

[@evilblumonkee959]

My great-grandfather was horrifically injured on August 4th at Delville Wood by German shells, being hit in the back & front left shoulder by machine gun fire & hit in the head by a 4” bit of shell shrapnel. He was placed on “the 4 hour list”, thus not being expected to live beyond 4 hrs. Of course he did survive, otherwise I wouldn’t be here today. My family have the shell fragment from his head injury, the 2 letters written to my great-grandmother from the Methodist minister explaining things & rather remarkably, the hit in the shoulder he took actually hit his breast pocket, but hit his bible, playbook & pocket mirror & it ricocheted up into his shoulder. We also have the bible, mirror & paybook. I never met him as he drowned in ‘46 in morecambe bay after watching his 2 sons march off to fight the same country nearly 20 yrs after he did. He joined a pals battalion as a staunch Methodist & came out of the war a fierce atheist - like many men did. We just never EVER forget what these people did for us!!!

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching and sharing your family's story. We will remember them.

[@robotslug]

Imagine being the farmer of that land, constantly reminded by the memorial how many gave their lives for you to be able to make your living there. Whoa.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching.

[@jetaddicted]

Look at the wheel trenches in the field: the farmer makes sure not to disturb those resting there 😊

[@34979Charlie]

Very interesting episodes, well done .. I'm sitting here today because my Grandfather by some sort of miracle survived it all , he was drafted in 1917 from Australia as soon as he became of age (by that time they weren't any volunteer's left) and ended up stationed in Belgium.. Long story short after approximately 12 months of fightning he was hunkered down with 20 others in a huge dug out taking enemy fire when a huge shell landed in their trench killing every single one of them except him ... he was severely injured after being filled with shrapnel along with missing a chunk of his jaw , he lay in there covered over with the bodies of his fallen comrades and was pulled out 3 days later during a rutine clean up , they assumed they were all dead as he was still unconscious when he was dragged out, they noticed he was still breathing luckily and he was rushed off to a hospital in Irland ... thank goodness he was seriously injured I guess so as not to be sent back to it all although by the time he was on the mend the war was coming to an end thank goodness ... he fell in love with the Irish nurse that was tendering to him , she moved back to Australia with him after the war ended in 1918 , they had 4 kids and one was my father obviously. . and the rest is history as they say , unfortunately he didn't pass on much of his experiences about what he had endured over there to my dad.. as he would never talk about it .. he died 20 years before I was born.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching and sharing your family story.

[@teatonaz]

Wow, great story about your grand pappy. Thanks and cheers to long life.

[@sugarkane4830]

I know this is 3 years later but never the less. Australia never had conscription in WW1. Only volunteers.

[@harryrichardson3193]

Thank you Steve for making this video. My great grandfather was a sniper in the Accrington Pals, went over the top with the rest of them in the first wave. He actually survived the war & went back years later to see many of his friends who are buried there. Hell on Earth he called it according to my grandmother. He lied about his age and volunteered at 15.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching.

[@ultraruna]

Fantastic quality filming and very informative, thanks for posting. I visited the Somme a few years ago, as an ex regular soldier I'm not usually one for to much sentimentality, but I was moved very much by the area and the quiet feeling of loss that surrounds it. The very least of them was a better man than I.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching.

[@dane5896]

My Grandfather served in the area with the Irish Guards.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching. My GF was not far away with the 5th Royal Warwicks.

[@weldermarshall]

Good video but I’m surprised you didn’t mention the 13th / 14th Yorks and Lancs ( Barnsley Pals ) who advanced bravely into enemy fire for little gain. My great uncle James William Holt (Jimmy Berry to his friends ) 14th battalion Barnsley Pals was killed shortly after leaving Nairne trench and his body was never recovered, his remains still lie in what was no mans land.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching. Sorry for not including the Barnsley pals.

[@anthonyeaton5153]

I met two Barnsley Pals about thirty years ago they had some tales to tell both avoided injury on the 1st of July. One was wounded in the stomach in late 1917 by a sniper. Was made fit by March 1918 where his battalion was preparing to go into the line. A request for former miners to leave the army and go back down the mines was made. Within two weeks he was back down his old pit away from that Hell.

[@philorkill]

Very educational and a humbling experience even from the comfort of my office chair. Thank you for sharing.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching.

[@joepalooka2145]

Excellent video and very educational. I've never been to the site and this really shows the lay of the land where so many men were sacrificed needlessly.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching.

[@superbia75es]

I was at these places on Wednesday. Thanks. Your videos helped shape a 3 day Somme tour. Serre Number 2 is...I don't know...horrifying? Is that the right word? 7,000 lads, you just see it as you approach from the Albert direction and you kind of slow the car in staggered reverence. It's some place. All of it.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching. These cemeteries are a sobering reminder of what happened in those fields.

[@bevanpope7924]

Thanks for sharing. Great piloting skills in that narrow cemetery... Us South Africans are so far away, it's not as easy to visit these places which is why you Sir, have done a first class job!

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching.

[@ThePhantomMajor]

Well done mate. My grandmother's cousin was wounded at Serre on 1 July 1916 with the 1st Bn. King's Own Royal Lancasters. He was killed the following year in April at Arras.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

I was lucky in that all direct relatives survived. GF throughout the First World War and my father the second.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching and sorry for your families loss. We will remember them.

[@DEeMONsworld]

Very nicely done, very interesting. I have done some google earth searching of British airfields from WW2, the shapes or ghost lines vary in visibility from season to season and year to year.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching.

[@mitchhirst1734]

I am so pleased to have found this video. I have visited the area myself but to work out things on the ground is difficult. My grandfather was in the Barnsley Pals at Serre and the most i ever got out of him when asked about the war was the Answer, "Ah wer on Somme." He even had a brother who was a regular with the KOYLI at Mametz. He died of sickness in Rouen having gone through from virtually day one. Thank you for the video i now have to find one on Mametz

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching. When I get time I will revisit the Somme and may film Mametz wood.

[@nickh4486]

Hi Steve. Nice video, in fact the whole series has been particularly useful. My Wife had a Great Uncle who was killed on 1st July 1916, he was a Sergeant serving with the 1st Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment. He was apparently in the second wave and his remains were found in 1924, with at least 16 others . . . as it turns out by sheer chance. The place where he was found appears in your video at 10:17, just beyond the square group of trees which contains a Farm and a military cemetery. Exiting from the left of that group of trees is a white road/track with a distinct bend. It was just to the right of that bend (as we look at it) in the green field, where he and his comrades were found. This, I believe was just north of the redoubt known as the Quadrilateral or Heidenkopf, in the German trenches. We're intending to visit the area in September (2018) and your video has been invaluable . . . please keep up the good work !

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching and your comments. I trust you know which cemetery he is buried in. There are so many in this area.

[@andersonsroad5161]

How wide or deep was the actual battle field area that was subject to artillery strikes Steve? Was that entire area we see in the wide angle shots all dug up and mud or was the actual area less?

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching. Complete destruction from Ypres to several miles beyond here. The artillery barrage for the 1917 offensive was usually the width of the attack and up to 5 miles deep. The Germans called it the crater-field. All trenches were destroyed. Defending Germans were in shell holes, often filled with water. Many of the German concrete blockhouses were destroyed by the heavy artillery. About half the defending infantry were incapacitated and much of the lighter artillery. Yet they still put up one hell of a defence. The big problem for the attackers was then advancing over the destroyed landscape and bringing up their guns and ammunition to continue the advance.

[@andersonsroad5161]

@@StevenUpton14-18 Thank you for your reply Steven. How long after the war did it take to return the land to agriculture? To fill in the shell crates, remove the wire and bury visible human remains. I realise even today human remains and ordinance comes to the surface.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

@@andersonsroad5161 Its hard to say. When you look around in this area and you realise that not a single building is older than the 1920's along with the entire city of Ypres. The are over 100 villages in France that were never rebuilt.

[@andersonsroad5161]

@@StevenUpton14-18 Thankyou Steven. ~Brendan.

[@Joe-gu6oe]

Do you believe there are still soldiers corpses lost to the fields. Could it be the great explosions sent them deeper than the plows?

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching. Approximately half of those killed have no known graves. They were either blown to pieces and there was nothing to bury or are still in the ground. Every year the remains of the fallen are found.

[@Joe-gu6oe]

@@StevenUpton14-18 So sad.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

@@Joe-gu6oe - Sad, yes, but when I visit these cemeteries I always get a feeling of peace.

[@Joe-gu6oe]

@@StevenUpton14-18 ~ It is a good feeling. I understand. I hope the suffering will never return.

[@Vogelweyhde]

I can't watch without feeling my heart race. To imagine that 102 years ago these now peaceful fields were an infernal cauldron, plowed over many times by exploding grenades, shrieking when coming in, and followed by explosions everywhere, with gun fire from all sides. These pictures convey a haunting stillness. The aerial view is especially informative and gripping. I have never been to any of this or another of the First War battle fields, only read accounts of soldiers in the trenches. Thank you for these movies.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching and your comments.

[@flashstrikewing]

i'am glad to see respectful , proper cemetery

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching. The British and Commonwealth War Graves Commission do a fantastic job maintaining these cemeteries.

[@stefansahlin9476]

Thank you for your amazing videos about the First World War, and especially the Western Front. We are a couple of friends who will drive motorbikes from Sweden to France to look at memorial sites from WW1 in summer 2023. Especially Ypres and the Somme. Your videos are a great help. Thank you again!

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching. I am leading a motorcycle tour to Verdun in June 2023.

[@alexhayden2303]

My grandfather managed to get killed on 15/9/16. A notable day.* en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Flers-Courcelette 'Even Britain’s September 15 introduction of tanks into warfare for the first time in history failed to break the deadlock in the Battle of the Somme.' And was finally fortunate to find a resting place with the Guards, at Lesbœufs. Just an ordinary private, no longer a young man. 3 of his sons joined up, 2 were wounded and one gained an M.M. for single handedly holding a m/gun nest, whilst shot through his bent arm. I was extremely lucky to get a slightly singed copy of his enlistment papers In the Royal West Kents. (Queen's Own.) KEW Records bombed WW2. What would they think of England now? *Date Corrected.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching. Sorry to hear that your GF was one of the fallen. My GF was fortunate to survive active service from March 1915 through to the end.

[@bessonbach]

Very informative. It compliments Rory MacColl's new film about the Accrington Pals and his grandfather's role as commandant from 1915. This film will be screened for the public in Accrington on Remembrance Day 2021.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching.

[@codyking4848]

It's always so humbling to me, to think of perhaps going for a countryside walk one day and never knowing about the hallowed ground I might be walking across. What once buzzed with bullets and shells and bristled with barbed wire and trenches, now buzzes with bees, and bristles with thorny bush and bramble, only the lament of the wind and sky to be heard. 'lest we forget.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching.

[@timmyb7734]

My great-grandfather was in the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade 7th Squadron during the last two years of the war on the western front, was often used as a messenger due to the breakthrough never happening, I guess that's why I am here and so many are not.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching. My grand father and his brother were infantry from March 1915 until the very end. They were both very lucky and came home.

[@thomaswislocki2804]

Gommecourt was the nothernmost part of the Somme battle on july 1st 1916...

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching.

[@schuur10]

Although i know the difference between ww1 as a trench war and ww2 as a quick strike and go war, I was wondering if all ww1 graveyards sustain undamaged the ww2? I like youre informative good lay out of the situations you are filming!!

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching. I know that many cemeteries in the first world war were destroyed in later battles; however, I am not aware of any being damaged or destroyed by WW2 fighting.

[@joshmarks3954]

@@StevenUpton14-18 There is WW2 damage at the Adelaide cemetery , Villers Bretoneux . Thanks Steven for these amazing videos and the excellent narration.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

@@joshmarks3954 Have have visited that area on foot some years ago. Must get back there with the drone.

[@joshmarks3954]

@@StevenUpton14-18 I really enjoy your content Steven, I have been lucky enough to travel to the Western front several times, But it's a long way from my home in Australia. Your excellent narration packed with accurate historical information and the unique perspective with the drone footage is remarkable. Thanks for making these area's accessible for those of us that can't get there as much as we would like to. Cheers!

[@StevenUpton14-18]

@@joshmarks3954 Thank you for watching.

[@Bruce-1956]

1000 cemeteries, astounding. Indeed the CWGC do a fantastic job.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching. The CWGC looks after 23,000 location around the world.

[@Rushmore222]

It would be surreal to live in that tiny hamlet knowing all the young men who died so violently nearby trying to gain access to it.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching.

[@tootiejamba]

Always impressed with your work. Drone footage makes it real.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching.

[@markg117]

It looks so innocent and serene now. A terrible waste of brave men on both sides. RIP to all of them.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching.

[@bcmbdk]

Powerful. Wonderfully done. Thank you.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching.

[@Lemonidas75]

Amazing videos, truly. May all the soldiers who took part in the madness of ww1 rest in peace. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching.

[@dollybanks9080]

thats chilliwack bc CANADA

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching. Not sure what you are referring to by "Chilliwack ..."

[@KadaverKarl]

Thanks again Mr. Upton, very impressive! What a terrible waste of lifes! My grandfather fought at the eastern front in WW 1 and got captured, had to do time as PoW in Kola/Russia to build railroads there, managed to get back home somehow and wrote a book about his experiences. It is beyond believe for us living today, what sacrifices these people had to suffer back in the day.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching and sharing this about your GF.

[@lescalverley8335]

Hello Anthony. The MM I referred to was awarded to my paternal Grandfather in April 1918 during the defence of Nieppe Forest at the battle of Hazebrouke

[@anthonyeaton5153]

Thank you Les it us a great keep sake and I am sure you will treasure it. Could you tell the names of his unit.Tony Eaton.

[@lescalverley8335]

Yes. He was in the 95th Company Machine Gun Corps in, I believe the 5th Division.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for sharing this. In 1918 the 'third tier' gallantry medal for officers was the Military Cross (MC) and for other ranks the Military Medal (MM). The MM is no longer awarded. All ranks now would get the MC.

[@ninjaGrim1]

Wait, what happened to the Newfoundland regiment?

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching. There were at Beaumont Hamel not here at Sere. See my other film that covers Beaumont Hamel and Newfoundland Park.

[@ninjaGrim1]

@@StevenUpton14-18 will do, just finished the Somme series

[@barryhollywood9186]

Fabulous video

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching.

[@Spitsz01]

Just finished reading "Storm of Steel" by Ernst Jünger. I believe he was in this area.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching. I have not read that book.

[@Spitsz01]

@@StevenUpton14-18 Thanks for your reply. It's worth reading. It has a certain monotony about it, but I can imagine that was what it was like after 4 years of hell.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

@@Spitsz01 Thank you.

[@Ok-551]

Nice flying

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching.

[@mikeh3365]

Hello Steven, I have just been watching some of your fantastic From the Air series , how wonderful and informative they are, what I wanted to say after watching this From the Air - The Somme 3, I heard you mention that your Grandfather served in the 5th Battalion RWR, well so did mine, at the actual spot you filmed by drone and mentioned your grandfather at the luke copse cemetery I was at that actual spot a month or so before you in early sept 2016, I left a wooden cross in the cemetery top left hand corner behind the large cross and in front of flowers, I would love to contact you as I would like to ask you some questions about your grandfather and his service no etc, the reason being for most of my life I have been trying to establish whether my grandfather served in the 1/5 or 2/5 RWR, on his medals just says RWR but I found out he through old copies of Birmingham Mail when he joined up in Thorpe Street, Birmingham on 8 Nov 1915 into the 5 Battalion RWR, but no mention of whether it was 1/5 Batt who were already in France and part of the 48th South Midland Div or the 2/5 Batt who hadn't left for France until May/June 1916 and were to be part of 61st (2nd) South Midland Div, his service no was originally 5264, then changed to 201439 in 1917 with the new renumbering, I have his medal index card etc but no mention of battalion number, wonder whether you could shed any light on it for me, I visit the Somme usually once a year ( going tomorrow actually for a few days , 15 Sept 17) but I am never sure where to visit and remember my grandfathers service with the 1/5 or 2/5, confused.com my grandfather later on transferred to the 29th Machine Gun Batt sometime around August/Sept 1917 when he won the Military Medal, I would love to touch base with you when you are free Steven, my email is [e-mail]

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Sorry for delay in replying, I've been away. I have republished the 1/5th Batts war record - www.sdubooks.com/other-books/5th-royal-warwicks/prod_407.html I think your GF may have been in the 2/5th, its really a confusing numbering system!

[@phoebecooper5558]

Fantastic video. My Great Great Uncle is buried at Railway Hollow Cemetery. He wasn't killed during the Battle of the Somme but in February 1917 while the 10th Worcestershire Regiment was holding a sector of the line.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching. I’m sorry for your families loss.

[@Hamishwinstanley1986]

My Great-Granduncle Private William George Wray is buried in Queens cemetery as seen in this video. He was in 11th Battalion, East Lancashire regiment- a part of the Accrington Pals. He was killed on 1st July 1916 on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. His brother (my Great Grandfather) was also in the war, at Gallipolli, and survived.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching. My great uncle was also at Gallipoli, wounded twice and only 16 years old. But he did survive and I knew him.

[@martinsmith1538]

Brilliant work from Steve. Dedication for this work is second to none. Great information and great clarity. Keep up the good work. Missing not being able to go back there due to the pandemic restrictions, can't wit to do so. These are good in the meantime.

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching. Covid permitting I hope to back on the Somme in September.

[@lescalverley8335]

Terrific video Steve. Of all the sites that I have visited along the Western Front over the years, this is by far the most poignant as it brings home events of the 1st July 1916. Pity my most recent visit was spoiled by some idiots throwing a grenade around!

[@StevenUpton14-18]

Thank you for watching.