June 1977 was very wet, Wimbledon was badly affected. In those days, the BBC did not put on endless re-runs of old games. As a 17 year old, I looked outside at the rain and decided to stay in. The BBC instead re-showed this programme from the previous year. After just 10 minutes of watching this, I knew this evening would be the most important of my young life. I learned for the first time about the Somme and the Pals battalions of my home town of Bradford. That was almost 40 years ago now. Now, a published author on the Somme and schools battlefield guide, I spend most of my time immersed in making sure the soldiers of 1914-18 are not forgotten by their families. In 2006, I was involved in raising a memorial to the Leeds Pals in Bus-les-Artois. This year for the centenary I have been helping in the raising of a second twin memorial to stand by its side - this time to our Bradford Pals. These memorials are not to their destruction at Serre on 1/7/16, but to recall that last day in Bus on 30/6/16 when the Bradford and Leeds Pals shared a final 'perfect' afternoon, the bandsmen of the 1st Bradford Pals took out their instruments and played a concert for all there before they packed up and made their way forward for the attack the following morning. Their casualties on the day were appalling . Yes, please do watch this documentary, it may seem dated especially the technology used in making it - but for me, the hour or so I spent back in 1977 watching this documentary certainly changed my life and now in turn has this affected the lives of many others...

The passion with which Leo McKern tells this story is remarkable - and very moving.

Leo Mckern is extremely articulate and eloquent. Such a beautiful voice.

My maternal grandfather and his 3 brothers were at the Somme. His brothers were killed on 1st July 1916. Grandad survived. I was about 8 and asked him about the war. I still remember him freezing, standing up and leaving the room. My mother grabbed me, took me into another room and said 'If ever you ask grandad about the war again, I will kill you!' I never did, but years later she told me how he saw one brother about 20 yards in front and to his right vanish as a shell exploded. None of my great uncles have a know grave. Rest in peace my brothers in arms and all who fell in that terrible slaughter.

A documentary deserving of the highest accolades. Intelligently narrated by the brilliant Leo McKern. The pace of this documentary allows the viewer to reflect on what is being said. Quality adult productions like this are no longer made for today's impatient masses only interested in fast-paced, action-packed visuals. The closing words are most moving. Story presentation at its finest!

The horror these men lived through, for nothing really, just to be forgotten... 😢

I thought I had seen every scrap of film about the Great War, but just found this masterpiece. Thank you so much for posting it and placing another piece of the jigsaw.

What a brilliant Documentary. Timeless. The narrator is fantastic!

Seen it in 1976, and seen it again in 2021. Thank you.

I thought I'd seen every British documentary on the battle of the Somme, apparently not. This one is exceptionally good. Simply unimaginable what these men suffered, witnessed and endured. Visiting the battle site, and Verdun are certainly on my bucket list.

Damn,I swear no one does history better than the Brits,cheers from the states

If they still made high quality programs like this, I might watch. Thank you for posting 🤘🏼

"The Generals would accept huge loses." Well isn't that very gracious of them. !!

I'm 37 and live in the USA and 95% of the people I ask if they know what Verdun or the Somme they don't know and it makes me smh this is world history

Superb. Ive visited a lot of the scenes featured in this film. They are no different today from how they were in 1976.

what an amazing documentary, why can't they make quality films like this any more?!

I do like these older documentaries which don't rely on heavy use of music and loud crashing sound effects, often with a dumped down naration.

What a terrible waste of good men. It must have broken so many towns and families. Good documentary. Thank you for posting.

He knew something of war himself. He was an Australian and a Sapper in the Royal Australian Engineers in World War II, despite having lost an eye in an accident when he was aged 15.

the greatest documentary about the somme battle ever many thanks to all concerned in finally putting it on you tube my old version on vhs is wearing out i watch it at least once a year my great uncle fought on the somme at beaucourt 13-18 november and was k.i.a at gavrelle 28 -4-1917and has no known grave

Wow. What a great piece of work. Moving and respectful.

What a brilliant documentary, the British certainly know how to honor their fallen and give them the respect they so rightly deserve. Watching this really makes you think about what is was like for these brave men who fought this battle and what they went through. Now some 100+ plus since the battle occurred I think it's important that these men never be forgotten and to appreciate the time in which they lived and fought. Of all the wars from history WW1 is the war which interests and amazes me the most. From the conditions they fought in, who the people were, the circumstances and just the overall historic effect this war had on the future of this world is truly remarkable. Believe it or not I wish I could have fought in this war just to experience it and see for myself how this war actually was for the common soldier. Thank you all for your service.

Stunning. A wonderful documentary. Well researched and beautifully presented.

Excellent choice of narrator. He told the story simply and effectively and it was in no way about him.

I remember seeing this on TV in New Zealand in 1979. Ever since then, for the last 42 years (2021 now), I have been fascinated by the Somme battle and the First World War in general.

Lost a Great Uncle in 1918. Nothing but respect for this generation. Prefer the company of veterans these days. USMC RETIRED

Excellent 🙏

With all thats going on in the world right now, its easy to forget what a good and safe life most of us are enjoying. We are sitting in our warm homes and are complaining about simple problems while our ancestors got their legs amputated because they got infected in the mud. Blown into pierces from artillery or shot in the field and bled out in the barbed wire, somewhere in the middle of nowhere...

Thank you a fitting tribute to the men who fought this campaign. My great uncle, Pvt Robert Ryder VC, was awarded the VC for his actions during the Somme on 26 September 1916 and unlike so many of those awarded this medal actually lived to tell the tale. He died at the age of 83. This is footage of him returning home. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/mtiKnLBe39naepc.html

Just a moving story. Bless the bravery of men who are put to task, to effect the ego of 'The Brass and Government'.

I had never seen those photographs before on the first morning of the assault. Those pictures were astonishingly haunting.

Britain should have NEVER fought in WW1. We have never owed the French ANYTHING, and when we have involved ourselves with that country it’s ALWAYS cost us dearly. It was the end. The end of a great nation and a world power. The cost was immeasurable and folly unmatched in human history.

outstanding,sombre,reflective....

Leo McKern was the ideal choice to narrate this with his unique mixture of gravitas and humanity. On paper the offensive looked feasible even lthough the Allies had advance knowledge of the impregnable German trench system which they chose to ignore for some reason. Many of these young men were little more than children under military age. It is difficult for us today to accept the extent of this slaughter. It was - and still is - inconceivable. The generals had learned nothing since the charge of the Light Brigade disaster sixty years before when British soldiers were hurled against the guns and massacred. The British had machine guns which might have been deployed in front of the advance - just in case the Germans were regrouping. But then the relentless shelling was assumed to have exterminated all resistance. I suppose given the thinking and weapons of the day the action was inevitable, alas.

Good to hear "mademoiselle from armentieres" used in both this fantastic documentary, as well as in They Shall Not Grow Old. Such a catchy song.

60th Anniversary Program... watching in Newfoundland on the 105th anniversary. "Better Than the Best"

How sad for the WW1 generation of men. All brought about by the 3 grandsons of the Queen.

My great uncle Dan was killed at the Somme.His body was not found.His name is on the Thiepval memorial and on the Ardrossan memorial in Scotland.He was not a career soldier.

RIP To the 95,675 British troops, 50,729 French troops, and 164,055 Imperial German troops who were killed in the Battle of the Somme

never seen this before! its always nice to find a documentary made before the 'modern' era style of documentaries. just a calmer style, more impactful imo.

Thanks for the upload.

Excellent. Leo certainly adds gravatis

absolute insanity !

great documentary. would be good to re make it thanks for sharing

The Somme was the pinnacle of insanity like receiving a death sentence and not committing a crime.

The worst day in the history of the British Army was July 1, 1916. 57,000 casualties. In America's 60 Families Ferdinand Lundberg wrote that the US entered WW I to make it last longer and bankrupt our Allies in England, France and Russia. This is according to a partner of JP Morgan. The Somme offensive was to relieve German pressure on the Verdun front where the French were losing. By comparison, the US had 53,000 casualties on both sides over 3 days at Gettysburg July 1-3, 1863 during the Civil War. The British government tried to give a spin to the events of July 1st but the public soon learned otherwise when they received so many telegrams telling them of the deaths of the fathers, brothers, husbands and sons. Our first congresswoman in the US was Jeanette Rankin from Montana who was elected in 1916 and voted against entering WW I. She was asked many times about that vote. She said, "Women have been asked to send their fathers, brothers, husbands and sons off to war but were never allowed to vote for or against war. I thought that as the first woman in history allowed to vote that I ought to vote No."

The soldiers words are beautiful/sad/funny. Like: "Who fired those shots ! Don't they know someone's going to get hurt !"

Wasted the cream of European manhood. A massive pointless cull. No more. Criminal from any angle.

There was still people who experienced the Somme in 1976 the last died in 2005 plus the last ever veteran died in 2009

Brilliant, informative and respectful documentary I have never seen before. No irritating near continuous background music the B.B.C. insist on using in their programmes nowadays.

"...lions led by donkeys." - General Erich von Falkenhayn.

thank you for sharing...

The horror and insanity of this war makes this former soldier’s tears flow and my blood feel cold. Those who went over the top were noble fools. Those who gave the order were criminally incompetent. Haig was certifiably insane.

A very moving film.

People love this shit. We keep doing it over and over again.

Paternal grandfather: October, 1916, buried by a large German shell and received a "blighty" wound from it. His war was over.

BRILLIANT..THANKYOU SO MUCH X.

Excellent!!!!! 👍👍🇺🇸🇬🇧🇫🇷

brilliant video , and very moving.

We shall remember them

My grandfather was a POW and survived. but never did he tell his story!

I honestly still have no idea why this war was fought 🌹

A generation of Newfoundlanders lost in no mans land…and for what?

Jack Sheldon has a wonderful book on the German side of the Somme battle. full of first person accounts. 'This Carnival of Hell' by Richard Baumgartner is also an incredible book on German fighting on the Somme. Also my favorite WWI book by a mile. Practically break out in goosebumps reading what those men witnessed and somehow, against all odds lived to tell the tale.

The 2016 documentary The Somme 1916: Both Sides of the Wire is a more informative programme introduced by WW1 Archeologist Pete Barton. He provides evidence to suggest the Battle of the Somme ended in January 1917 and lays bare why the British failed overrall and how organised and prepared the Germans were throughout 1916-17.

This documentary is going back to 1976! Wow, looks like what I'd be watching at my Grammy's on Boston's WGBH in Boston as a 10 yo. I'll never forget the day she took me to see her/my Great Great Uncle who'd fought in WW I. His young Doughboy portrait sitting a few feet from his creaky old bed-ridden body as he smiled at me there in his elder years. It was my immediate connection to that Great War. This documentary reminds me of that day. Now they're both gone.

Notice how rare the story of the German soldiers is ever told.....

today is the 103rd anniversary of the battle of the somme. July 1st 1916 to July 1st 2019

Thanks to Covid 19 stay at home and the movie 1917 just knew about this battle.

Happy 105th anniversary of the battle of the Somme

My grandfather served England at the Somme First raf Is there anyone else out there who can connect He survived, lucky, described as a a very good gunner on discharge He emigrated to Oz after as did so many Fingers crossed xx

100 years ago tonight was the last for 19, 000 British troops.

I just want to know who were the commanders watching this unfold? This is LEGAL MASS MURDER

I would rather be the last to go... not the first

I'm a old man now my grandfather fought in the great war. I remember him and his brothers talking about somethings, about what a waste. How can people not know about all that were lost on both sides what a shame

And today you could ask 100 people, I'm afraid they couldn't answer when and where.

Wonderful, moving documentary. Brilliantly researched, produced, and magnificently presented by Leo McKern. This is a throwback to when the BBC still made top quality documentaries. Not the endless Woke dross it spews out today, sadly...

War is Tragic. When will you people learn? -Bill Howes.

Passchendaele...... 😭

Wars can only take place when there is a suspension of conscience. "War is nothing but legalized murder" --Harry Patch, last surviving Tommy of the Great War.

I highly recommend, "Goodbye to All That," by Robert Graves.

*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.*

"the mass empty graves ready for the fallen were bad for moral" no shit!

Sorrowful remembrance of this terrible day in history.

Wars should be fought by all these old geezers who start them

The most forbidden documentary in history: “Europa The Last Battle” at archive dot org

Hypnotic insistence on the traditional view

And in 2021 the band is slowing getting back together 🇬🇧🇦🇺🇺🇸 Will the drums of war be forced upon us again?

No, men are not like that now 1:09:45 From the poetry, books and letters written at that time, there's no doubt that these men were made of different stuff.

10 minutes before the attack, just to get footage. They HAD THE ELEMENT OF SUPRISE!!!! But they quite literally, blew it.

I always wondered why they never tried walking artillery. I know they of course knew/ know more then i do, but why not go over while the large extended bombardment took place or why not start consistent precise artillery as close and as safe as they could to the men. Germans duck and the artillery would keep littering the sky with dirt and smoke so the soldiers could walk behind and if worse case scenario the germans started firing then the men could dive into the previously created craters everywhere

The arrogance and inflated egos of the majority of British officers never ceases to amaze and anger.They always insist that they are right, seldom listen to advice, and get people killed with monotonous regularity.This is an excellent video, well presented by Leo Mckern.

Not on the surface so it could be identified by the various populations of the time. After 'Franz's Assassination and Allies joined forces. New alliances made and the war progressed. The push and pull of these Army's and this great war for geography and or political leverage is mind blowing. The continuous military blunders, ordered by Generals to throw the same punch, over and over again to break lines, at the cost of 10's of thousands of lives. Get their names in the headlines for fame or political gain. Can't tell me the people running the show didn't have Huge ego's.Thats what I mean't. Not the actual history, that played out that started, and moved this conflict forward. Never thought I would have to explain this. Sorry this is so 'Piecemeal' but, its really early.

Oh dear God

people forget that the 1st battle of the somme lasted for 3 months and cost 600000 live on both sides...what a complete cluster fuck

Fantastic documentary, it spares us the bleeding heart emotional manipulation of more recent efforts and tells the story plainly. Also, i remember reading a story from when the film of the battle was first shown in Britain in 1916. A man recalled sitting in a dark movie theatre, the audience watching in stunned silence when a woman suddenly stood up, with tears streaming down her face, and shrieked "MY GOD! THEY'RE REALLY DEAD!"

Between Agincourt and the Somme approx. 600 years. And yet 'man' learned nothing....

I've been to Albert it's a fascinating place

This war was so sad, so terrible. Those trenches were murder holes, and the soldiers went to it with such patriotism and gallantry. Poor guys.

All wars are terrible but WW1 was as close to hell on earth as it gets in my opinion. So many infamous battles that lasted so long. Dug into a disease ridden trench for months and months fighting for your life.