“No one can visit the Somme battlefield without being impressed with the magnitude of the effort made by the British Army.  Credit must be paid, not only to the private soldier in the ranks, but also to those splendid young officers who commanded platoons, companies and battalions. Although new to this terrible 'game of war' they were able, time and again, to form up their commands in the darkness of night, and in spite of shell holes, wire and other obstacles, lead them forward in the gray of the morning to the attack of these tremendous positions.

 “To many it meant certain death, and all must have known that before they started."  

GENERAL DOUGLAS HAIG, FIRST WORLD WAR, March 31, 1917