@historyofthosebefore: 🌺 "30 Minutes Before the Battle of the Somme..." 🌺 This lane, near the village of Beaumont-Hamel, is known as the Sunken Lane. On the morning of 1 July 1916, soldiers of the 1st Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers gathered here in the final moments before the Battle of the Somme began. For many, this would be the last half hour of their lives. The lane offered some protection from German observation as men waited shoulder to shoulder, checking equipment, sharing final words, and preparing to leave the relative safety of the trench system behind. Then came the order. At 7:30am, the whistles blew. The men climbed from the lane and advanced into No Man's Land. Within minutes, many had been hit by machine-gun fire from the German positions ahead. The opening day of the Somme became the bloodiest day in British military history. Nearly 20,000 British soldiers were killed and around 60,000 became casualties. Today, the lane remains. The trees have grown, the shell holes have disappeared, and the guns have long fallen silent. Yet standing here, it is impossible not to think of those young men who waited in this very place on that summer morning in 1916, unaware of what the next thirty minutes would bring. Many of those who left this lane never returned. Today, they rest beneath rows of white headstones across the fields they were ordered to cross that morning — ground that was once No Man's Land. 🌺 Lest We Forget those who waited in Sunken Lane on 1 July 1916 and never came home. 🌺 #Somme #BattleOfTheSomme #Somme1916 #BeaumontHamel #FirstWorldWar

marieelliott128 :

Never forget.

Pauline Taylor :

God bless them all 🙏 and thank you

Richard :

my grandmother's brother was in the first wave posted as MIA she took to her grave believing he was still alive

EloiseCandilio :

A different time when respect, love, courage meant so much more. I’ve made sure my family remember and respect these wonderful people that gave their all.

leedavis4486 :

God bless them all ❤️

Old Grey Head :

Bless you all, thank you. 🥰

Phil Jones :

brave lads God bless

John Summers :

God bless them read book. 📕 Harry patch last tommie incredible story

Scott Dyos :

Thank you for your service 🙏❤️

gordonf4 :

Lest we forget 💙🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

markashley784 :

God bless brave men.

Stephen Perry :

🙏🙏🙏 respect 🫡

kathleenwilson197 :

The bravest of the braveGod Bless them ❤️❤️

Julie :

God bless them 🙏🙏🙏❤️

Wattie Bhoy :

bravery at its highest.

danceswithwhippets :

This makes me so sad.

Stuart Harris :

God bless

andrewchambers1970 :

lest we forget 🙏🙏🙏

mally :

We must never ever forget

Fortheloveofboxers :

War no matter what side you’re on isn’t the answer

jackhrt_🐺 :

My great grandad was at the Somme

SapperSnapper :

Steven Croft :

god bless them all

dandelion :

My great grandfather fought in 1st and 2nd battle of the somme, 36th Ulster division.

Alexander Clark :

May God Be With You