Lee-Enfield rifles and Pattern 1907 bayonets The attacking British infantry expected to drive the Germans from their trenches with their Lee-Enfield rifles and Pattern 1907 bayonets. But many soldiers who advanced across no land man’s found little chance against machine gun fire and artillery. Some soldiers were cut down even before they had crossed their own front line. Photo caption Men of 55th Brigade after taking their objective at around 6pm on 1 July A costly apprenticeship British...infantry... is very brave but undergoing a ‘The costly apprenticeship.’ French officer, 10 July 1916 The Battle of the Somme lasted five months. The Allies kept attacking, but the Germans fought for every inch of ground. Soldiers from across the British Empire took part in the battle. For many of them it was their first experience of combat on the Western Front. Why did the battle last so long?
Lee-Enfield rifles and Pattern 1907 bayonets The attacking British infantry expected to drive the Germans from their trenches with their Lee-Enfield rifles and Pattern 1907 bayonets. But many soldiers who advanced across no man’s land found little chance against machine gun fire and artillery. Some soldiers were cut down even before they had crossed their own front line. Photo caption Men of 55th Brigade after taking their objective at around 6pm on 1 July A costly apprenticeship ‘The British...infantry... is very brave but undergoing a costly apprenticeship.’ French officer, 10 July 1916 The Battle of the Somme lasted five months. The Allies kept attacking, but the Germans fought for every inch of ground. Soldiers from across the British Empire took part in the battle. For many of them it was their first experience of combat on the Western Front. Why did the battle last so long?
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