The Battle Of The Somme 100 Years On

Sky News Defence Correspondent, Alistair Bunkall guides us through some of the key sites in the Battle of the Somme and the memorials in place to commemorate those that were lost in one of the bloodiest times in human history.
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[@robcalkin44]

I find that any war doesn't deserve any respect but every soldier deserves nothing but respect.

[@mikelheron20]

I find that illogical. Without soldiers (I include sailors and airmen) there would be no wars. Don't put all the blame on the politicians. They can vote for, agitate for, scream for, war as much they like but it's the military that turn words into deeds.

[@robcalkin44]

+mikelheron20 My point is that the concept of killing others to create peace and protection is abhorrent but for those who go out there into the battlefield deserve the upmost respect.

[@robcalkin44]

+mikelheron20 If they are going out there risking their lives and having to work in environments that can psychologically damage them then I will respect them, however I am talking about soldiers not terrorists or militia.

[@keneosegbo3788]

typical internet user half thought comment, its their jobs ffs.

[@mikelheron20]

+Abu Waheeb I'm guessing that the term "soldiers" is selectively applied to those fighting for a cause in which this person believes. It's interesting. I'm old enough to remember the Mau Mau in Kenya. The day before Kenya gained independence they were terrorists (they would have said "freedom fighters") - the day after, they were soldiers.

[@totalfailure4741]

My great great uncle fought in the great war. He was a royal engineer. He died on the first of July 1916 with many others. His name is on the Thiepval memorial for the missing. The memorial Has 72,000 names on it. let us not forget those who fought in the war, those of all nations, no matter how history remembers them.

[@loquayrocks]

two of the pieces of film used in this report were not live action but re-enactments for a documentary being made. It needs to be made clear that that is the case. Also, they were ordered to walk and were told there would be no resistance. It was lions being led by donkeys

[@ots1634]

that was a re-enanctment theen? That one soldier doesn't look like he's taken a hit but rather he is looking at the director and being told to act shot. Forgive me if I'm wrong I realise that maybe he was actually shot and I don't mean to be disrespectful, it kinda looks like he's faking it.

[@josephball5367]

@@ots1634 A lot of the footage used in this clip was basically propaganda for the Battle and a vast amount of troops (around 100k) were registered to fight before the Somme, most likely the film shown in this clip would have been a use of propaganda to demonstrate the proposed British dominance in the War.

[@MarlboroughBlenheim1]

They weren’t all ordered to walk in fact - there were many different units involved and Rawlinson’a “tactical notes” left the formations to the battalions on the ground: a number (eg 4 Division) were in place in no man’s land before zero hour and used skirmish formations. Others rushed. Others walked. It was a 15 mile front. There was less resistance in the south.

[@MarlboroughBlenheim1]

@@josephball5367 That’s not right. First, more than 100,000 British troops fought and the film was only shown after the battle started.

[@bethdams1]

I’ve been to see this in real life and no photo or video can show the shear size of this crater, this is definitely something that everyone should experience, the memorial is spectacular as well! It really puts everything in perspective, RIP to those who gave us the privileges today that we all take for granted sometimes ❤️

[@peterhowe547]

where is that crater?

[@bethdams1]

@@peterhowe547 it’s the Lochnagar Crater in La Boisselle, France

[@T0mat0S0up]

My great grandad fought there. Died from his injuries back home.

[@MissLizzy882]

they did not "just walk over" they were ordered to walk. They were following orders!

[@user-wickedflower]

Lizzy Kennett obs

[@vanellaicecream9821]

Lizzy Kennett they were to be shot in the back should they break ranks .

[@theunknownmonkey4159]

Is this a joke or a fact :|

[@KrysKu07]

@@theunknownmonkey4159 fact-they were ordered to walk by Sir Douglas Haig

[@ThePierre58]

Each division carried out the attack according to ground commanders. Australians, fresh from Gallipoli campaign rushed to shell holes as soon as barrage ceased. Scots division did same thing. The fresh newly recruited Pals Battalions were instructed by their officers to proceed with caution. War Walks, a company that provides guides on battlefield tours was very informative on this issue. Blackadder Goes Forth, while entertaining, was not a history lesson.

[@SLACKPLAN9]

No...NO! They weren't "confident enough that they just walked.". They were ORDERED to WALK! Just like at Paschendale, when, after all that experience, Commonwealth troops were ORDERED, yet again, to WALK.

[@ThePierre58]

Sky News is never a good source of information. This synopsis is bloody nonsense. Try Wikipedia.. much more accurate.

[@elscourou6654]

Exactly. And the dude said it wasn't a flawed offensive and then proceeded to, basically, explain the flaws, which effected the offensive, flawing said offensive..

[@MarlboroughBlenheim1]

They weren’t ordered to walk in all cases. Different units had different approaches.

[@Tennischamp450]

There was nothing wrong with walking, the distance was too far to run.

[@user-yu3ym3dy5z]

Such a sad, sad event. They were ordered to walk over there or they would have had a bullet in their head. So they would of died either way. But this battle was such a tragic way to die.

[@oskyperez4989]

*The attack on the German positions was preceded by a week of artillery bombardment, where the British fired around 1.5 million grenades, in addition to ten tunnels dug under German trenches that were filled with explosives of 20 tons each. They thought that reaching the German trenches was going to be a Sunday walk, but the opposite happened, the Germans massacred them.*

[@TheTartanFox]

I've been to see that crater but I don't reamber it being so green and also the grave at the end with all who were not found so sad

[@edible_lemon]

Lol, no, they didnt just "walk across no mans land expecting nothing" they had orders to march across no mans land, the Irish had the right idea, take as much gear off and run for it, but still, respect

[@lonw.7016]

I began watching this last night and then went into Wiki to read about Somme?Verdun. Huge is what I learned. "And" (quotations for emphasis) all of the other major battle taking place along the trench lines. Sheesh.

[@MetalFan10101]

0:50 apart from 2 guys who died falling down the slope

[@ots1634]

nice sensitivity in that joke there, although they are actors, that one on the left of the screen is still fidgeting with his clothes after being shot

[@charleess21]

0:52 Did that soldier at the right got shot ? I don't understand

[@ShmokeyBandit]

Those famous clips are actually reenacted.

[@jeffreycabrera4141]

No he just played dead thats all

[@erroldcruz]

Must have stopped a bullet in the face

[@philster611-ih8te]

No, it was re enacted. Theres no kits on their backs, it isn't even a trench, its a ditch. It was verified by experts to be filmed foe the newsreels.

[@chrisd913]

It was a re-enactment. There is no real battle footage from WW1 as far as I've ever known

[@dredge9520]

We shall remember

[@dominikopresnik8478]

Land of free because of "brave" R.I.P. HEROES✝

[@samh6182]

They didn't "expect no resistance" they were told to walk to conserve energy

[@reecebrotherton261]

I go to Lochnagar Crater every year (it's a war memorial) 57,000 people died there that day.

[@yeastygames7696]

1,000,000 million British and the troops from their colonies died their at least I think that's the allied casualty rate.

[@nathanberger7643]

It was actually 1.3 million casualties combined with about 650 000 british commonwealth and french casualties and roughly the same german casualties making it one of the bloodiest battles in human history.

[@LCMNUNES1962]

ÓTIMO DOCUMENTÁRIO DA HISTÓRIA, BRASIL OK.

[@gloomsouls]

Odd that so many bodies would be under the ground that people farm and walk on, not even knowing.

[@chuggies2020]

真情像草原广阔 层层风雨不能阻隔 总有云开 日出时候 万丈阳光照亮你我 真情像梅花开遍 冷冷冰雪不能掩没 就在最冷 枝头绽放 看见春天走向你我 雪花飘飘北风啸啸 天地一片苍茫 一剪寒梅 傲立雪中 只为伊人飘香 爱我所爱无怨无悔

[@christopherwall444]

What's the story with that one soldier in the scene where the British soldiers climb the side of the trench in unison to charge. One soldier to the right giving low effort then after merely peaking over the top appears to either be somehow killed or feigning death...

[@farshidamini2590]

00:51 he was not get shot! he just dont want to be in party hahah

[@AntonEz1223]

Sad.

[@generalbooger9146]

Anyone know where i can find this kind of quality for the Malins Film? I've never seen that guy running before.... one that gets hit. Usually just a blur moving

[@alexisroman8380]

Hill 60

[@jeremymullins1294]

Went to Google maps to see where exactly this battlefield is and the first thing I noticed was a McDonald's on the outskirts of the town of Albert.

[@ronalddump4148]

the guy at 00:50 on the right hand side appears to faint before even going over. so sad

[@cyrosubod2317]

He’s scared didnt made it out

[@thhthhh9298]

“ Hear the words I sing wars a horrid thing “. Blackadder Goes Forth

[@bravevesperia14]

In those times there commanders only care about victory

[@InTenMinutes1]

Did the poor fella at 0:54 die? Once he lies down he looks dead, but the moments before it doesn't look like he was shot. Break my heart the thought of it. What a disappointing European story.

[@pas5735]

That’s a reenactment from the 30s

[@EDcase1]

Very poor information.

[@osiejiofor1898]

Very interesting facts

[@gonzomonzo1000]

0:52 he decided not to go ?

[@jameswelsby5734]

I think I read somewhere that after that 1st shelling, they then sent infantry in whilst the shelling was still going on. So that the Germans didn't have time to rectify themselves after the bombing stopped. And then it was close quarter combat, and many perished in a most horrible way. Can anyone confirm if that is correct?

[@user-qq2vq4fv8b]

Nah , not even the British generals were stupid enough to shell their own men .

[@bridgetblain1094]

Bless all their heats 😢💔🙏🌹✌️x

[@brownkevi1]

The cream of 'Edwardian' youth from Germany died that day too. 72,000 soldiers? That's only the British. Why cannot documentaries be neutral?

[@alexrogan5233]

Kevin Brown The " Victors " write History in their own version of the Truth. The German soldier is the most capable warrior that ever lived. It's a disaster how their resources were misused by Moronic Leaders.

[@jamesshunt5123]

@@alexrogan5233 A "capable warrior" who choses to be lead by "moronic leaders" is certainly not a very "capable warrior". That's basically a blind fanatic. And history has far more "blind fanatics" pulling the impossible than your precious Germans.

[@backtoeden853]

I wouldn't call them tactics mate

[@Grimmyboy5443]

HERE FOR SCHOOLWORK UUUUGGGHHHHHHHHH

[@nightsniper8381]

0:50 was that guy shot?

[@marciawilson1490]

No. This is a reenactment for the 1916 film as is the first 3 seconds. Trenches were narrow and deep and far too dangerous for the cameraman to film an actual attack .

[@robsherwood113]

If this battle was a present war church hill should of been charged with war crimes as he knew this was a suicide mission.

[@wolverineeagle]

Churchill was vice lord of the admiralty at this time. He nothing to do with the Somme.

[@robsherwood113]

+wolverineeagle read abit more, church hill knew he was sending them over the wall to die that area of land which was a division.

[@yeastygames7696]

He wasn't in charge of this battle he was a sergeant in the army. After he failed at Gallipoli.

[@alains8795]

FFS, Churchill had nothing to do with this battle. So many shyte comments here.

[@pl6046]

Lusatnia

[@TravelDiaryofaFightingCouple]

Very insightful! Visiting the Somme battlefields is a fascinating experience! Check our video!

[@justmadeit2]

Imagine if as much effort was put in by the establishment and the media in the u.k in asking hard questions about wars in the first place instead of the pomp and ceremony and almost entertainment like value of these commemorations. The first world war was a disgrace of a war that cost the lives of millions on both sides and for what ??. There is a good book people might want to read called War is a lie, by David Swanson. Its a real eye opener

[@lonw.7016]

That first man commented and the others are neglecting the Lack of Dependable and Effective communication. Hmm. EDit: for me, I feel that this was the most important factor. An administrative failure, and rests upon the war planners.

[@crookedpaths6612]

I was shocked to read how many of my fellow Kiwi lads were at this place. Not the bloodiest. Paschendaele was worse... New Zealand death & casualty rate was the highest of all, after the war - poor beggars.

[@General1815.]

I was the 1,200th like 👍

[@rosewhite---]

All those dead soldiers are still waiting in their graves for God to resurrect them - most will probably get the chance of living 1,000 years under Jesus's rule. Read this in the Bible: John 5:28-29 "Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgement."

[@mikelheron20]

I hate to spoil your fantasy but many never had graves. They were, literally, blown to pieces and their scattered bones ploughed into the soil. Resurrecting them is going to be tricky.

[@rosewhite---]

mikelheron20 Grow up and try understand that the vast majority of the dead have turned to dust and completely disappeared but God knows everything about everyone and will have no difficulty resurrecting all the dead for their interview.

[@yeastygames7696]

Well yes some have decomposed however they still find bodies some times.

[@yeastygames7696]

What's wrong with Jews. Christians are supposed to respect others beliefs.

[@henkschoute5659]

Rose White dream on Rose..

[@juliocesarsantizgomez1296]

😾

[@TT_1221]

When will we see commemorations for the million Iraqi's killed by the Bush / Blair invasion? We will never see commemorations for that.

[@rossm2868]

17 million men died in ww1, the battle fields where brutal, and life on the front lines where hard , people had to drink their own urine for god's sake.

[@spitsenschipper]

honour and Glory to the german army.!

[@christinefury7839]

They lost. Twice. Paid a huge price once, then an even bigger price the second time. Their arrogance cost them dearly. Fret not, the same lesson was learned by numerous of people over the course of history. Germany's reign was short though.

[@Zinnfidel]

They lost the first fight, declared a rematch and lost again 💀

[@Sotsufferer]

More Germans died in this battle than the British…