This is the story of the first day of the Somme Offensive, 1 July 1916 - the single bloodiest day in British military history. 57,000 British soldiers became casualties, most within a few hours of the initial attack. The offensive was part of a doomed attempt to break the deadlock of trench warfare. But behind the myths lies the story of an elaborately-planned battle, fought against a determined and experienced German enemy, and a struggle that was seen at the time as both unavoidable and necess

#OnThisDay 1916 British and French armies launched the Battle of the Somme, an attempt to break the deadlock of trench warfare of World War One’s Western Front. It became the blackest day in British military history, with 57,000 casualties in the first 24 hours. This clip is from our Battle of the Somme video. Watch full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqvALkpsfRo | Epic History TV

Discover facts about the Battle of the Somme and see how the site has changed since 1916 with footage from The Battle of the Somme film overlaid with shots of the same locations 100 years on in a poignant reminder of the impact of war. | Imperial War Museum London