The context
'Absolutely astonishing': the war committee and the military
Decision-making, January-February
Decision-making, March-June
'Grasping at the shadow': planning for the Somme, February-June
'Favourable results are not anticipated': preparations for battle, June
'A short life': VII and VIII corps on 1 July
'The enemy's fire was so intense': X corps on 1 July
'Wave after wave were mown down': III corps on 1 July
'Cowering men in field grey': VX and XIII corps on 1 July
Reflections on 1 July
'Ill-considered attacks on a small front', 2-13 July
'Cavalry sharpening their swords', 14 July
'We are a bit stuck', 15-31 July
'Something wanting in the methods employed', 1 August-12 September
'A hell of a time': Posières and Mouquet farm, July-August
Summary, 15 July-12 September
The politicians and the Somme campaign, July-August
One division's Somme: the first division, July-September
'An operation planned on bolder lines': tanks and the 15 September plan
Lumbering tanks: the battle of 15 September
25 September
'The tragic hill of Thiepval', 26-30 September
'A severe trail of body and spirit': the Somme, October
'We must keep going!': the politicians and the Somme campaign, September-October
The political battle: Beaumont Hamel, 13-19 November
Reflections on the British at the Somme
The end of it all, November 1916.