SOMME Into The Breach - Hugh Sebag-Montefiore

One million casualties in four months, with no real winner.   One million human beings.

On the first day Haig remarked ' we only lost 40,000 men, not as bad as expected' -unbelievable.

The book itself is regiment by regiment and what they did across the front which is really for super history buffs, so for the casual reader like me it drags a wee bit.  But the excerpts from the diaries of the ordinary soldiers are heart breaking.

This history should be being taught as a lesson in not to listen to politicians.