So much has been written about the 1916 Battle of the Somme that it
might appear that every aspect of the four-month struggle has been
described and analysed in exhaustive detail. Yet perhaps one aspect has
not received the attention it deserves – the French sector in the south
of the battlefield which is often overshadowed by events in the British
sector further north. That is why Ian Sumner's photographic history of
the French army on the Somme is so interesting and valuable.
Using a selection of over 200 wartime photographs, many of which have not been published before, he follows the entire course of the battle from the French point of view. The photographs show the build-up to the Somme offensive, the logistics involved, the key commanders, the soldiers as they prepared to go into action and the landscape over which the battle took place. Equally close coverage is given to the fighting during each phase of the offensive – the initial French advances, the mounting German resistance and the terrible casualties the French incurred.
The photographs are especially important in that they record the equipment and weapons that were used, the clothing the men wore and the conditions in which they fought, and they provide us with a visual insight into the realities of battle over a hundred years ago. They also document some of the most famous sites on the battlefield before they were destroyed in the course of the fighting, including villages like Gommecourt, Pozières, La Boiselle and Thiepval.
Reviews
Excellent new Images of War book by @eccles28 & published by @penswordbooks: superb selection of images & engaging and informed text explaining the role of Poilus on the#Somme in 1916. (Paul Reed @sommecourt on Twitter)
This excellent book by Ian Sumner is a very valuable corrective to the idea that the 1916 Battle of the Somme was all about the British. Featuring a good introductory section, it uses its many well-chosen large black and white photographs with informative captions to paint a quite different and larger perspective.
The book is divided up into five chapters and spans 144 pages in total. The first substantive chapter, of 36 pages, deals with the French Army on the Somme in 1914-15 and the handover of the northern part of the sector to the British in the latter part of the year. It starts with a concise, two-page introduction and then goes into a series of well-chosen clear black and white photographs showing various aspects of French Army life on the Somme front, with detailed, informative captions, some including quotations from French servicemen of the period.
Chapter 2 The Plans - opens with text giving Foch's tactical doctrine for the Somme and then about 30 pages showing the military build-up with a particular focus on the artillery preparation. It is refreshing to see recognition of the Somme as an all-arms effort, with artillery and the French airforce both being featured.
Chapter 3 - the offensive begins - spans 33 pages. It has a good short introductory section setting out the progress of the battle in the French sector in the first two months (July and August), a period which saw the French consolidating their first day gains north and south of the river. The narrative drive almost inevitably dissipates once one gets to the photographs but reference back to the useful map helps to situate the numerous photographs in their proper place in the narrative.
Chapter 4 - regaining momentum - describes and illustrates the renewed Franco-British offensive in September in about 25 pages whilst chapter 5 - the end of the offensive - does the same for the diminishing returns of the October offensives and brings both the narrative of the offensive and the book itself to a close. It includes some interesting reflections on the success of the Somme as a battle to relieve pressure on Verdun and in its own right, and takes a look ahead to the Nivelle mutinies of the following year.
There is no index which is a minor hindrance, and it would be even better if a map had been included showing all the places identified in the photographs (the one map, a period one from 1916, is very good but a number of the places covered in the first chapter seem to be off the map to the south.) However, these are minor points which detract little if at all from the overall value of the book.
Obviously, the main selling point for this work is the fine collection of photographs, many of which will be unfamiliar to a British audience (and indeed have not been published before). However, it is much more than a compilation of photographs, with the text and captions adding real value. I would highly recommend it for anyone wanting to get the full picture of this iconic battle, or for anyone interested in learning more about the French Army in the First World War. Four and a half stars. Trilby on arrse.co.uk
Roger-hedgehog on Amazon.co.uk
Using a selection of over 200 wartime photographs, many of which have not been published before, he follows the entire course of the battle from the French point of view. The photographs show the build-up to the Somme offensive, the logistics involved, the key commanders, the soldiers as they prepared to go into action and the landscape over which the battle took place. Equally close coverage is given to the fighting during each phase of the offensive – the initial French advances, the mounting German resistance and the terrible casualties the French incurred.
The photographs are especially important in that they record the equipment and weapons that were used, the clothing the men wore and the conditions in which they fought, and they provide us with a visual insight into the realities of battle over a hundred years ago. They also document some of the most famous sites on the battlefield before they were destroyed in the course of the fighting, including villages like Gommecourt, Pozières, La Boiselle and Thiepval.
Reviews
Excellent new Images of War book by @eccles28 & published by @penswordbooks: superb selection of images & engaging and informed text explaining the role of Poilus on the
This excellent book by Ian Sumner is a very valuable corrective to the idea that the 1916 Battle of the Somme was all about the British. Featuring a good introductory section, it uses its many well-chosen large black and white photographs with informative captions to paint a quite different and larger perspective.
The book is divided up into five chapters and spans 144 pages in total. The first substantive chapter, of 36 pages, deals with the French Army on the Somme in 1914-15 and the handover of the northern part of the sector to the British in the latter part of the year. It starts with a concise, two-page introduction and then goes into a series of well-chosen clear black and white photographs showing various aspects of French Army life on the Somme front, with detailed, informative captions, some including quotations from French servicemen of the period.
Chapter 2 The Plans - opens with text giving Foch's tactical doctrine for the Somme and then about 30 pages showing the military build-up with a particular focus on the artillery preparation. It is refreshing to see recognition of the Somme as an all-arms effort, with artillery and the French airforce both being featured.
Chapter 3 - the offensive begins - spans 33 pages. It has a good short introductory section setting out the progress of the battle in the French sector in the first two months (July and August), a period which saw the French consolidating their first day gains north and south of the river. The narrative drive almost inevitably dissipates once one gets to the photographs but reference back to the useful map helps to situate the numerous photographs in their proper place in the narrative.
Chapter 4 - regaining momentum - describes and illustrates the renewed Franco-British offensive in September in about 25 pages whilst chapter 5 - the end of the offensive - does the same for the diminishing returns of the October offensives and brings both the narrative of the offensive and the book itself to a close. It includes some interesting reflections on the success of the Somme as a battle to relieve pressure on Verdun and in its own right, and takes a look ahead to the Nivelle mutinies of the following year.
There is no index which is a minor hindrance, and it would be even better if a map had been included showing all the places identified in the photographs (the one map, a period one from 1916, is very good but a number of the places covered in the first chapter seem to be off the map to the south.) However, these are minor points which detract little if at all from the overall value of the book.
Obviously, the main selling point for this work is the fine collection of photographs, many of which will be unfamiliar to a British audience (and indeed have not been published before). However, it is much more than a compilation of photographs, with the text and captions adding real value. I would highly recommend it for anyone wanting to get the full picture of this iconic battle, or for anyone interested in learning more about the French Army in the First World War. Four and a half stars. Trilby on arrse.co.uk
Roger-hedgehog on Amazon.co.uk
Another addition to the Images of War series from
author Ian Sumner. We commonly think of The Somme as a British battle
of 1916, but perhaps we overlook the role of the French Army in the
southern sector. Their role could well have been greater, but even in
the planning stages the German assault on Verdun drew away important
elements of the French Army. Verdun was to become the greatest focus of
the French Army, rather as The Somme was to for the British. Though
reduced, there was still a significant contribution to the Battle of the
Somme from the French Army.
The book is split into five chapters, each one
starting with a few pages to provide the historical background, and then
supported with over 200 appropriate archive photos, gathered from
various French archives, and all with helpful captions. It starts with
the background, and how the area was relatively quiet for 1914 -1915.
Chapter 2 deals with the Plans, which had to be changed when Verdun was
attacked. The Offensive Begins in chapter 3, with the French having a
good deal of initial success. German resistance stiffened and things
ground to a halt. In chapter 4 we see the attempts to get the offensive
moving again, though British and French tactical ideas were not really
in line, though some level of agreement was reached that come September
some more effort was made. It had at least helped reduce the pressure
on Verdun. In chapter 5 we get to the End of the Offensive. Limited
success had been achieved but the casualties had been high.
In the photos throughout the book we get to see the
conditions in which the French soldiers lived and some fine references
on their uniforms, weaponry and equipment. No tanks at this stage of
course, but plenty of artillery, including railway guns, do feature. In
terms of other equipment we do see narrow gauge railways, aircraft and
observation balloons. All this will be interesting to the WW1
historian, while the detailed references for French uniforms and
equipment, along with unusual elements such as a hospital barge, so the
military figure modeller and re-enactors will find it very useful.
Another good WW1 reference. Robin Buckland on Military Model Scene
By 1916, the opposing armies were well dug-in. The Battle of the Somme was to prove a four month
slogging match. The German and British casualties seized attention on both sides, leaving the French as
something of a side show. This does not do justice to the French and this new book uses some 200 rare
images, many never before published, to tell the French story, supported by good text in introduction
and in captions.
With so much attention directed at the British and German troops, a strong visual matching presentation
of the French Army in action is long overdue. The images are of high quality and well lit. They show
how the French soldiers lived, and also those civilians who decided not to leave the area. The uniforms
are shown, together with equipment in common use. This is a nicely executed book and important to
any enthusiasts library of WWI history. Firetrench.com