To commemorate the start of the Battle of the Somme today – 1st July
Joe Sacco’s Great War cartoon graphic tableau of the first day of the Battle of the Somme on display in Paris (I first posted this in August 2014)
Running along one side of Montparnasse Metro (underground station). Brief explanations, in one or two sentences in French with English translations, of the role the soldiers played.
The picture below more or less is captioned ‘The stretcher bearers often went overland above the trenches that were just too overcrowded’. One of the best commemorations I have ever seen and in such a key area no one could fail to be moved by it. I admit I tend to think of my Grandad when I see such things and am forever grateful he survived the war, despite shell shock and gas.
Just a taste of metre upon metre of pictures and captions. My photos were taken on the moving walkway, grabbing my camera in one hand and balancing luggage as best I could. Plenty of reviews on line if you type in Joe Sacco’s Great War.
Ann Perrin 
Thank you for sharing this again. I discovered only yesterday about the Battle of Boar’s Head which occured on June 30th 100 years ago. It has become known as the Day Sussex Died as the Sussex regiments were involved and their terrible losses foreshadowed what was to come. There are exhibitions all around the county, for example in Brighton Museum and Steyning Museum
Thank you for commenting. This post for me was always tip of the iceberg. My partner and I have visited many of the cemetaries sometimes taking photos of particular graves for friends and relations who for various reasons were never able to make the trip.
Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog and commented:
Please take time to reflect on the ultimate sacrifice made by these young men in the name of Freedom From Oppression…
Thank you for your comment.
I would like to add that having lived in a household with a Great War veteran, my grandfather, he found it very sad that many of those that did return maimed and wounded were ignored by society and left to survive as best they could.
I remember seeing those from BOTH wars in my home town Ann – Thankfully, many, but still not all, of our services people are better cared for now.
One of my grandfather’s was there with the 72nd Seaforth Highlanders. While he survived the war, he was plagued with the damage for the Mustard Gas to his lungs. The other grandfather, A Swede, contacted Tuberculosis and died a few years later. He had also served in France and Belgium.
Thank you for your comment. Yes my grandfather too never properly recovered from Mustard Gas and was hospitalised for over a year and registered as insane, luckily he did regain his sanity eventually.
My partner’s father’s brother died at Thiepval on 27th July -.The price of glory???
Thanks for sharing this with us. I only realized the Battle of the Somme had an anniversary on July 1 yesterday. What a shocking loss of life and waste of young treasure!