Somme: 141 Days, 141 Lives

by Alexandra Churchill, Andrew Holmes

The Battle of the Somme was not only the costliest battle of World War I, but one of the bloodiest in human history, with more than a million lives lost. Each of those lives was special. In this day-by-day commemorative journal, 141 of those soldiers have been chosen, and the stories behind them described, one for each day of the battle. The poignancy of their personal tragedies will remind us of the great sacrifices made by ordinary men for our future freedom.

Genres: History

240 pages, Hardcover

Published September 1, 2016

About the author

British historian Alexandra Churchill has been researching the air war for a number of years in addition to compiling a detailed roll of honor for Eton College. She has a book due out next year, telling the story of the war through the eyes of the school’s old boys and will feature the Harvey brothers who appear in episode one of The Big Dig in more detail. Other projects in the pipeline include a biography of a pilot and something that will incorporate a personal passion of hers and tell the story of football in the Great War.

Alex has previously worked with John Hayes-Fisher on an episode of Timewatch about the air war in 1918, and on "Fighting the Red Baron" and "Titanic with Len Goodman" as a researcher / contributor.

Reviews

[Emma Dargue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stunning and emotive look at the lives of 141 men and women who were involved in the Battle of The Somme. As it says in the epilogue " as the centenary approaches we hope that this collection of stories will remind the reader of the human face beyond the terror, the pain and the suffering inflicted by the Battle of The Somme", this perfectly describes what this book is and it honours not just the sacrifice of not just the 141 lives illustrated in this book but all the people involved with the Somme and on a wider scale the First World War - those that survived with trauma and loss to deal with and those who did not come back that made the ultimate sacrifice. This is a book that should be read by everyone in remembrance of those everyday heroes who volunteered to fight.

[Jose Bonifaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.29

I was lucky enough to get my hands on a signed copy by the author at the Thiepval Memorial Shop. I'll never know whether or not I was accidentally given the shop's very own signed copy, but I guess I'll just call it "fate" and move on.

The book itself is gorgeous and has been beautifully printed. Although it had been a permanent fixture in my living room table for a while, I took my time before starting it as I knew it was probably going to be a somber and somewhat harrowing read. I was right.

This book narrates the Somme Campaign from the perspectives of 141 British servicemen, all of whom were KIA during the battle. The amount of research put into this work is absolutely astounding, and every story is equally tragic and reflective of the senselessness of war. Despite the grim tone, the author's real merit lies in providing a thorough, day by day recollection of the events that took place during the offensive from various different views such as airmen, infantrymen, artillery men, and even stretcher bearers and army chaplains. Piecing together such a narrative is a challenge for any author and Churchill is triumphant in that aspect, often providing a clear picture of the broad, strategic facts of the campaign while diving into the tactical elements through each individual story. I had never seen a historical author take this approach and I do not believe there is a more humane and respectful way of honouring the memories of the people who took part in this conflict.

Some notes to end this review:
- As a fellow Chelsea FC fan, Alexandra Churchill takes every chance to mention our beloved Blues. My club's contribution during the War, previously unbeknownst to me, was an interesting fact I can definitely take some pride in.
- This may sound petty, but I was baffled by the author's decision not to include any soldiers from the Black Watch in her book. As one of my "favourite" (if you can call it that) and most decorated British infantry battalions, and having been pretty much decimated in this battle, just one little story wouldn't have been much to ask would it?
- I would have liked to have read this book before visiting the actual battlefields, as there is an extremely useful map which marks most of the relevant sites. Moreover, if you follow the narrative day by day, you can easily put together a timeline that will make a battlefield visit all the more efficient. The book feels like a guided tour at times.
- Although I understand that the author means to pay tribute specifically to the fallen servicemen, it would've been enriching to read a few stories of non-KIAs and their later adjustment to "ordinary" life. I'm pretty sure the effects of PTSD would've been an equally interesting read from a historical and human perspective ("Men unhit by shrapnel or bullets were nevertheless casualties").
- Suggested alternate title: 141 Ways to Die in the West(ern Front). Ouch. Jokes aside, the many different ways a man could meet his maker in this battle was astounding. If you managed to survive the enemy snipers and artillery barrages, you could just as easily be hit by friendly fire, die of pneumonia or disease or get sucked in by a pool of mud in your own trench. I wouldn't have lasted a single day.

[Ralph Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alexandra Churchill writes an excellent tribute to those who sacrificed all for freedom. It was a depressing but a necessary read for freedom loving people everywhere. Included are historical pictures and maps to keep the reader oriented on the situation as it unfolded. I would suggest reading it in small portions as you express a silent tribute to those courageous men and women who fought in the Great War.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

A behemoth of a topic, presented superbly in a format that allows you to read and digest small canonical-esque accounts per reading session… and that’s quite a relief. After all, reading non-stop about the deaths of a representative collective of the ‘000,000s killed, can be somewhat deflating

A masterful piece of research and writing, this is a super-insightful look into one of the costliest campaigns of the First World War