While there were triumphs, 1 July 1916 is generally remembered for its tragic loss of life. This first day of the battle of the Somme resulted in a British loss of some 60,000 men.

Origins of the Campaign --7 -- Opening moves -- Options to end trench stalemate -- Failed offensives of 1915 -- Plans for 1916 - towards the Somme -- Place of the Somme in Allied strategy -- 1914 -- 1915 -- 1916 -- 1917 -- 1918 -- Opposing Commanders -- 15 -- German commanders -- British commanders -- French commanders -- Opposing Forces -- 21 -- German Army -- British Army -- French Army -- Orders of battle -- Opposing Plans -- 31 -- German plans for defence on the Somme -- British Army's plan of attack -- Preparing for Z Day - artillery, barbed wire and dugouts -- French plans -- 1 July 1916 -- 41 -- Third Army: Gommecourt -- Serre and Beaumont Hamel -- Thiepval -- Ovillers and La Boisselle -- Fricourt and Mametz -- Montauban -- French sector -- South of the Somme -- German experience -- Situation at the end of the day -- Aftermath -- 78 -- A military disaster? -- Lessons of the Somme -- 78 -- Battlefield Today -- 88.