On the morning of 1st July 1916 120,000 men left their trenches in a concerted assault against heavily defended German positions on the Somme Battlefields in France.

Despite intense artillery bombardments and thorough preparation, the day was largely a disaster, with close to 60,000 men becoming casualties. This video will explore just one battalion that day, the famous 1st Lancashire Fusiliers who assaulted the fortified village of Beaumont Hamel.

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Written Sources:
G. Ashurst, A Lancashire Fusilier at War
G. Malins, How I Filmed The War
M. Middlebrook, the First Day on the Somme
War Diaries of the Great War (CD-ROM Version)
M. Magniac, 29th Divisional Reports

Video/Audio Sources:
G. Malins, The Battle of the Somme (1916), NARA
G. Ashurst, Interview, IWMSA
R. Holmes, War Walks
A. Robertshaw, The Attack on Beaumont Hamel

General archive Sources:
National Library of Scotland (NLS)
Google Earth (Web & Pro Versions)
Imperial War Museum Sound Archive (IWMSA)
Bundesarchiv (German National Archives)
US National Archives (NARA)
National Archives NextGen Catalog
Maptiler Pro (Desktop Version)
Memory Map Trench Maps

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Credits:
Research: Dan Hill & Simon Bendry
Script & Narration: Dan Hill
Editor & Sound Design: Shane Greer
Thumbnail Design: Linus Klassen
Music & Sound Effects: Epidemic Sound

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