I am sat eating my toast and drinking my cup of tea listening to my radio. It is just after 5am on Friday 1st July 2021. I cannot comprehend what was going through the minds of the thousands of young men, 105 years ago to the minute, as they were preparing themselves to go over the top at the start of the Battle of the Somme.
Particularly in my mind this morning are my grandad and Uncle George who, whilst not actively involved on the 1st day would see plenty of action later on and which would unfortunately cost my Uncle George his life.
Also in my thoughts are a 16 year old from Hull, Private Albert Barker, Sergeant Will Streets a miner and poet from Whitwell, Derbyshire and Rifleman Billy McFadzean from Lurgan in County Armagh. By the end of this day all 3 would be dead – amongst the 19,240 British and Commonwealth soldiers killed on this day alone. Footballers, cricketers, rugby players, teachers, lawyers, office workers, shop keepers, miners, steel workers, greengrocers, fishermen, farmers,… All fighting together and unfortunately dying together on the worst day in British military history. The next generation snuffed out. You can only imagine what the world would have been like had the talent and energy on both sides of the front not been wiped out not just on this horrific day, but over the 4 and a bit years of carnage in Europe.
Albert Barker, who joined up aged 14 would be the youngest soldier to die on the 1st day of the Somme, aged just 16. Common to many at the time he gave a false age to the recruitment office when enlisting and because they needed to recruit many young men, the recruitment officer turning a blind eye to this in the full knowledge that Albert was under the legal age to sign up.
Sgt. Streets, the eldest of 12 who gave up a place at grammar school to provide for his family and wrote beautiful poetry would be killed near Serre and would end up buried in the same cemetery as my Uncle George.
Billy McFadzean would be one of 9 VC winners on this day alone. Whilst distributing grenades, a box full of them slipped down the trench dislodging 2 of the grenade’s safety pins. Without a thought Billy threw himself on the box to shield the blast, killing him instantly but saving countless of his comrades.
These men are real heroes – not the overpaid, oversexed primal donnas that prance around today on a football field or the imbeciles and morons who claim their 15 minutes of fame on reality shows.
Give a thought today to the 19,240 men who, at this moment 105 years ago, were awaiting the whistle to go over the top but who would not come back.
They shall not grow old as we who are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
The View from Pengeston 