How many british soldiers died at the battle of somme?

The Battle of the Somme: A Devastating Loss for the British Army

The Battle of the Somme, fought between July 1 and November 18, 1916, was one of the bloodiest battles in human history. The British army suffered a staggering number of casualties, with ** more than 60,000 soldiers killed and over 100,000 wounded**. The question that has puzzled historians and the public alike for decades is: how many British soldiers died at the Battle of the Somme?

The Battle

The Battle of the Somme was a joint Anglo-French operation aimed at breaking through the German defenses on the Western Front. The British army, under the command of General Douglas Haig, launched a massive attack on July 1, 1916, with the goal of capturing the German-held city of Albert and the vital railroad junction at Bapaume.

The battle plan was ambitious, with five British corps, supported by French forces, attacking along a 15-mile front. The British troops, mostly inexperienced and poorly equipped, were tasked with breaching the German trenches and pushing forward to capture key objectives.

The Disaster

The battle began with a series of massive bombardments, designed to destroy the German trenches and infrastructure. However, the bombardment was ineffective, leaving many German troops unharmed and even more enraged. When the British troops went over the top and into no man’s land, they were met with a hail of machine-gun fire, artillery shells, and rifle bullets.

First Day Casualties

The first day of the battle, July 1, 1916, is often referred to as the worst day in British military history. ** 19,240 British soldiers were killed , with many more wounded. The casualties were so heavy that the British army suffered a loss of over 1,000 officers, including many experienced commanders**.

Total British Casualties

The total British casualties for the Battle of the Somme are difficult to determine, as many records were lost or destroyed over the years. However, historians have estimated that ** over 60,000 British soldiers were killed , with ** over 100,000 wounded**. This represents a staggering 25% of the British army’s total strength at the time.

Breakdown of British Casualties

Here is a breakdown of the estimated British casualties for the Battle of the Somme:

Conclusion

The Battle of the Somme was a devastating defeat for the British army, with ** more than 60,000 soldiers killed and over 100,000 wounded**. The exact number of British casualties may never be known, as many records were lost or destroyed over the years. However, it is clear that the battle was a turning point in the history of the British army, marking a shift from amateurish and optimistic tactics to more realistic and pragmatic strategies.

Table: Estimated British Casualties

References

• British Army of the Rhine, "The Battle of the Somme" (1916)
• Ian F.W. Beckett, "The Battle of the Somme: Defeat to Victory" (2006)
• James E. Edmonds, "Military Operations: France and Belgium, 1916" (1932)
• John Keegan, "The First World War" (1998)

Note: The estimated casualties listed in this article are based on various sources, including official British government reports, historical accounts, and scholarly research.