SIR DOUGLAS HAIG’S GREAT PUSH. THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME

This is an illustrated record of the Battle of the Somme, described as a ‘Popular, Pictorial and Authoritative Work on one of the Great Battles in History’. It was published in twelve fortnightly parts, rather like The War Illustrated, and the page numbering is consecutive right through. It is interesting to look back on how the progress of that campaign was presented to the public through official photos and, of course, the famous film, here reproduced in book form for the first time by arrangement with the War Office. After seeing the film the King remarked: “The public should see these pictures that they may have some idea of what the Army is doing, and what war means.” The illustrations are accompanied by a narrative that begins with an historical introduction covering the period August 1914 to June 1916. There is an index to all the pictures and an index for the contents, the latter grouped under subject matter headings, such as “Troops Engaged and Generals in Command; The War by Sea; Place Names and Descriptions of Actions etc.”