The First Day on the Somme: 1 July 1916
W. W. Norton & Company
1972
ISBN: 039305442X
English
376 pages
PDF
This is a very detailed account of the first day of the Somme offensive in 1916. In one day, the British Army suffered over 57,000 casualties (including 21,000 dead) - a 50% loss rate. Middlebrook chronicles how Kitchener's New Army was raised and trained in 1914-1915, with high hopes for achieving a decisive success in 1916. While the Germans knew the date and location of the offensive, they failed to move up adequate reserves because they underestimated the length of front that was to be attacked. General Rawlinson, Commander of 4th Army, bears much of the blame for the disaster in Middlebrook's account, due to his insistence on slow, clumsy "wave" infantry attacks, inflexible artillery support and non-use of cavalry for exploitation. Faulty British tactics led to total repulse on most of the front with heavy casualties, but in the one place where success was achieved with three divisions, Rawlinson forbade further advance. Attacking in broad daylight, at a walking pace into dug-in machine guns behind extensive barbed wire was found to be a very bad idea. Rawlinson had no concentration of effort; all infantry and artillery was spread evenly along the front. Nevertheless, British numbers (a 7-1 advantage) and courage could have scored a major success according to Middlebrook if the New Army had been properly used. The author stops to review the battle at set periods and he concludes with a very well-done analysis chapter. Excellent appendices cover both sides Orders of Battle, senior officer casualties, battalions that lost more than 500 men on 1 July and Victoria Cross winners.
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