A lieutenant’s harrowing diary written on the first day of the Somme, a battle that left some 300,000 soldiers dead, has been unearthed 108 years later.
The entry was written by Lieutenant Ernest Pearson on 1 July 1916, known as the bloodiest day in British history with 57,000 casualties, including 20,000 deaths, and provides a “blow-by-blow” account of the brutal battle of the First World War.
The soldier’s notes show how initial optimism soon faded when British troops were shot down on the disastrous first day.
Lieutenant Pearson initially describes his awakening in “The Day of the Great Battle” and adds that it was “probably one of the largest in history, the roar of the guns is incessant.”
The lieutenant was stationed near Authuille Wood with the 11th Notts & Derby Regiment and details the attack on the German-held Nab salient which began at 7.30am
A First World War lieutenant’s poignant diary written on the first day of the Somme, a battle that left around 300,000 soldiers dead, has been unearthed 108 years later.
Despite a positive start, the carnage soon begins and the soldier solemnly announces that the 70th Infantry Brigade, which also served in World War II, “has been cut to pieces.”
Lieutenant Pearson initially describes his awakening in “The Day of the Great Battle” and adds that it was “probably one of the largest in history, the roar of the guns is incessant” (pictured: British soldiers with a Vickers machine gun ).
Five minutes later, the soldier writes that there are “infantry on the Bosche front line.” Bosche was a derisive term for Germans during World War I.
And things continue to look positive in the early hours of the Somme, with Lieutenant Pearson noting that the 16th Highland Light Infantry, a successful battalion during the war that lost more than 500 men during the bloody battle, had begun “firing to the Germans in the trenches”. ‘.
But the first advances soon stop and, at 10:05 in the morning, the journalist reports that “there is no progress, both brigades are stopped by machine gun fire.”
And just over an hour later, the first signs of the true violence of the battle are detailed when Lieutenant Pearson writes that “casualties are very heavy.”
Eight hours of stalemate follows as the British try to block a heavy German bombardment, but the slaughter continues and the soldier solemnly announces that the 70th Infantry Brigade, which also served in World War II, “has been cut to pieces.” . .
He adds: ‘The 8th Y&L (York and Lancaster) went into action with 22 officers 677 OR (Other Ranks) and left with 65 OR’
The A5 diary covers the preparations for the famous battle, in which around 125,000 British soldiers died, from June 16 and details the first weeks of the Somme until July 27, 1916.
The British and French had joined forces to fight the Germans on a 15-mile-long front, but the grim battle ended in an attritional stalemate in November 1916 after having lasted 141 days.
The collector’s item went on sale for £800 at C&T Auctions, of Ashford, Kent, and has been consigned by a private collector. The sale will take place on February 14.
Lieutenant Pearson initially describes his awakening in “The Day of the Great Battle” and adds that it was “probably one of the largest in history, the roar of the guns is incessant.”
The lieutenant was stationed near Authuille Wood with the 11th Notts & Derby Regiment and details the attack on the German-held Nab salient which began at 7.30am
The diary also describes the number and strength of several battalions that fought on the Somme.
Matthew Tredwen, a specialist at C&T Auctions, said: “Lieutenant Pearson’s diary recounts the preparations for the Battle of the Somme, the events of the day and their aftermath.”
The Tommies had advanced only seven miles and failed to break the resolute German defense.
However, on the last day of the battle, the 51st Highland Division took Beaumont Hamel and captured 7,000 German prisoners.
The plan was to make a “big push” to relieve the French forces, who were besieged further south, at Verdun, and break the German lines.
Although it eased the pressure on Verdun, it failed to achieve a breakthrough and the war dragged on for another two years.
In addition to the more than 100,000 British deaths, a further 200,000 French and 500,000 German soldiers were killed or wounded in combat.
Battle of the Somme: one of the deadliest fights in history
The Battle of the Somme, which lasted 141 days, was the bloodiest battle of the First World War.
The British suffered 420,000 casualties, including 125,000 deaths, during the intense fighting. Another 200,000 French and 500,000 German soldiers were killed or wounded in action.
An estimated 24,000 Canadian and 23,000 Australian military personnel also fell in the four-month fighting.
A British soldier guards no man’s land while his companions sleep during the Battle of the Somme in 1916.
The British and French joined forces to fight the Germans on a 15-mile-long front, with more than a million killed or wounded on both sides.
The battle began on July 1, 1916 and lasted until November 19, 1916. The British managed to advance seven miles but failed to break the German defense.
On the first day alone, 19,240 British soldiers were killed after “going over the top” and more than 38,000 were wounded.
But on the last day of the battle, the 51st Highland Division took Beaumont Hamel and captured 7,000 German prisoners.
The plan was to make a “big push” to relieve the French forces, who were besieged further south, at Verdun, and break the German lines.
Although it eased the pressure on Verdun, it failed to achieve a breakthrough and the war dragged on for another two years.
An estimated 24,000 Canadian and 23,000 Australian military personnel also fell in the fighting.
The collector’s item went on sale for £800 at C&T Auctions, of Ashford, Kent, and has been consigned by a private collector.
The sale will take place on February 14.
Before the battle, each soldier was instructed to carry 220 rounds of ammunition and was “forbidden to stop to collect souvenirs.”
In addition to the more than 100,000 British deaths, a further 200,000 French and 500,000 German soldiers were killed or wounded in combat.
The British and French had joined forces to fight the Germans on a 15-mile-long front, but the grim battle ended in an attritional stalemate in November 1916 after having lasted 141 days.
The plan was a “big push” to relieve French forces, who were besieged further south, at Verdun, and break the German lines (pictured: a piper from the 7th Seaforth Highlanders Piper Group).
An estimated 24,000 Canadian and 23,000 Australian military personnel also fell in the fighting.
Matthew Tredwen, specialist at C&T Auctions, said: ‘Lieutenant Pearson’s diary recounts the preparations for the Battle of the Somme, the events of the day and their aftermath.
‘The story begins with optimism but quickly turns to despair due to the enormous number of victims.
“There is a fascination among collectors with the first day of the Somme as it is one of the most historic events of the First World War.”
