Thiepval

by Michael Stedman

The Somme Offensive which opened on 7 July 1916 is the battle that symbolizes the horrors of the Great War, with its appalling carnage and waste in return for negligible tactical achievement. Thiepval was pivotal to the campaign and many of the units who fought here were ‘Pals’ (such as the Salford) – their decimation meant disproportionate losses for the communities from which the Regiments were drawn.

This book not only describes the action but has many personal accounts. It gives details of numerous walks and explains the locality’s military significance.

192 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1997

Reviews

[Dan O'Neill · Rating 4 out of 5]

How in the f$+ing world did my grandfather survive this war.

Kind of surreal reading about his battalion (10th Royal Irish Rifles) and the things he may have been doing during the battle for and around Thiepval.

This is the first of this type of book I've read, and weirdly comes across as both too high level and too granular at the same time. But it was a very interesting read, and I learned alot from it.

[iain meek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book covering just the bit of the Somme at Thiepval. History from pre-Great War to the end of the British campaign. Includes excellent section with suggested modern routes around the area for visitors along with advice on where to stay and what to take along (and to leave your metal detector behind out of respect for the dead).
As a result, I have a much clearer idea of where my grandfather died and next time I go there I can have a look and leave some flowers in the Granatloch/ Liepzig redoubt- subject to farmer's crops of course.