Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter I
2. Contents III
3. Maps VI
4. Acknowledgements VII
5. 1. The Context 1
6. 2. ‘Absolutely Astonishing’: The War Committee and the Military 12
7. 3. Decision-making, January–February 15
8. 4. Decision-making, March–June 25
9. 5. ‘Grasping at the Shadow’: Planning for the Somme, February–June 35
10. 6. ‘Favourable Results Are Not Anticipated’: Preparations for Battle, June 57
11. 7. ‘A Short Life’: VII & VIII Corps on 1 July 71
12. 8. ‘The Enemy’s Fire Was So Intense’: X Corps on 1 July 83
13. 9. ‘Wave after Wave Were Mown Down’: III Corps on 1 July 91
14. 10. ‘Cowering Men in Field Grey’: XV and XIII Corps on 1 July 101
15. 11. Reflections on 1 July 112
16. 12. ‘Ill-Considered Attacks on a Small Front’, 2–13 July 119
17. 13. ‘Cavalry Sharpening Their Swords’, 14 July 131
18. 14. ‘We Are a Bit Stuck’, 15–31 July 141
19. 15. ‘Something Wanting in the Methods Employed’, 1 August–12 September 157
20. 16. ‘A Hell of a Time’: Pozières and Mouquet Farm, July–August 173
21. 17. Summary: 15 July–12 September 186
22. 18. The Politicians and the Somme Campaign, July–August 191
23. 19. One Division’s Somme: The First Division, July–September 203
24. 20. ‘An Operation Planned on Bolder Lines’: Tanks and the 15 September Plan 216
25. 21. Lumbering Tanks: The Battle of 15 September 229
26. 22. 25 September 239
27. 23. ‘The Tragic Hill of Thiepval’,1 26–30 September 249
28. 24. ‘A Severe Trial of Body and Spirit’: The Somme, October 261
29. 25. ‘We Must Keep Going!’: The Politicians and the Somme Campaign, September–October 279
30. 26. The Political Battle: Beaumont Hamel, 13–19 November 289
31. 27. Reflections on the British at the Somme 300
32. Epilogue:The End of It All, November 1916 310
33. Notes 316
34. Bibliography 343
35. Index 352