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Summary: British forces, chiefly 7th and 29th Divisions, on the first day of the Somme offensive, Western Front, 1 July 1916.
Description: The 'big battle' structure of the film opens with the preparatory bombardment for the days before the attack, the Infantry marching to their final positions, the attack itself, the casualties, prisoners and consolidation of the next few days as the attacking troops are withdrawn for rest. The bombardment, shown in the opening reels, is by a variety of guns from a giant 15-inch howitzer to trench mortars. The attack by 29th Division at Beaumont Hamel is shown, including the explosion of a mine under Hawthorn Redoubt. The remainder of the film shows the British and German wounded being treated at the Minden Post dressing station in 7th Division sector and the consolidation of captured German positions at Fricourt and Mametz. The British soldiers come out of the line to rest and they and their German prisoners retire to the rear.
Production Details: War Office (Production sponsor)
British Topical Committee for War Films (Production company)
Jury, William F (Production individual)
Urban, Charles (Production individual)
Malins, Geoffrey H (Production individual)
Malins, Geoffrey H (Production individual)
McDowell, J B (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: De Lisle, Henry de Beauvoir (person)
British Army, Royal Artillery, RGA & Siege Bty 15 (regiment/service)
Canadian Army, Canadian Expeditionary Force, [artillery] (regiment/service)
British Army, Div 7 (regiment/service)
British Army, Welch Fusiliers, Royal, 1st Battalion (regiment/service)
British Army, Manchester Regiment, 22nd Battalion (regiment/service)
British Army, Manchester Regiment, 24th Battalion (regiment/service)
British Army, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, 2nd Battalion (regiment/service)
British Army, Devonshire Regiment (regiment/service)
British Army, Gordon Highlanders, 2nd Battalion (regiment/service)
British Army, Div 29 (regiment/service)
British Army, Lancashire Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion (regiment/service)
British Army, Royal Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion (regiment/service)
British Army, Hampshire Regiment, 2nd Battalion (regiment/service)
British Army, Worcestershire Regiment, 4th Battalion (regiment/service)
British Army, Middlesex Regiment, Bn 16 (regiment/service)
British Army, Essex Regiment, 1st Battalion (regiment/service)
British Army, Div 56 (regiment/service)
British Army, London Regiment, Bn 1/14 (regiment/service)
British Army, Div 31 (regiment/service)
British Army, Yorkshire Regiment, East, Bn 10 (regiment/service)
British Army, Div 18 (regiment/service)
British Army, Kent Regiment, East (The Buffs), 7th Battalion (regiment/service)
British Army, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment, 7th Battalion (regiment/service)
British Army, Suffolk Regiment, 8th Battalion (regiment/service)
British Army, Div 4 (regiment/service)
British Army, Seaforth Highlanders, 2nd Battalion (regiment/service)
British Army, Div 37 (regiment/service)
British Army, Royal Fusiliers, Bn 13 (regiment/service)
British Army, Royal Army Medical Corps (regiment/service)
Royal Navy, Royal Marines & Royal Marine Artillery (regiment/service)
German Army, Wurttemberg Reserve Regt 109 (?) (regiment/service)
Keywords: weapons, British - gun: 18-pounder field gun (object name)
weapons, British - gun: 4.7-inch (object name)
weapons, British - gun: 6-inch 26cwt howitzer (object name)
weapons, British - gun: 60-pounder (object name)
weapons, British - gun: 15-inch howitzer & [+] (object name)
weapons, British - mortar: 2-inch plum pudding (object name)
weapons, British - mortar: 9.45-inch (object name)
weapons, British - smallarm: Vickers machine gun (object name)
weapons, German - gun: 77mm field gun & [captured] (object name)
animals, mammals: horse & [casualties] (object name)
animals, mammals: dog & [casualties] (object name)
animals, mammals: fox (object name)
agriculture, French - arable (object name)
casualties, British wounded - battlefield (object name)
casualties, German wounded - battlefield (object name)
casualties, German dead - battlefield (object name)
casualties, British dead - battlefield (object name)
combat, British - artillery bombardment (object name)
combat, British - mortar bombardment: [+] (object name)
combat [simulated], British (object name)
combat, British - mine explosion (object name)
defences, German - emplacement: [captured] (object name)
destruction, French military - area (object name)
equipment, British - personal: wire cutters (object name)
medical, British military - emergency (object name)
operations, British military - movement: march (object name)
operations, British military - preparation (object name)
operations, British military - return (object name)
operations, British military - routine (object name)
prisoners of war, German - movement (object name)
society, British military - sustenance (object name)
supplies, British, storage [FA] - munitions (object name)
01/3(4-15).57 (event)
Hawthorne Redoubt, Beaumont-Hamel, Somme, France (geography)
Minden Post, Carnoy, Somme, France (geography)
La Boisselle, Somme, France (geography)
Fricourt, Somme, France (geography)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Silent
Soundtrack language: None
Title language: English
Subtitle language: English
Technical Details: Format: 35mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 5
Footage: 4694 ft; Running time: 79 mins
HD Media:Yes
Notes: Shotsheet: a detailed shotsheet and analysis of the film has been prepared as a resource on the IWM website to accompany DVD distribution of this film (2008)
Distribution: THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME appears to have been used in at least some cinemas with FOR THE EMPIRE (IWM 714) as the supporting programme. For example, a newspaper advertisement for the Palladium in Southampton promotes screenings of BATTLE OF THE SOMME as 'the most Thrilling Pictures of the War' then says 'Also an extremely interesting Patriotic Film, entitled FOR THE EMPIRE, issued by order H.M. Treasury.' (Information supplied by Dr Michael Hammond, Southampton University.)
Remarks: the classic First World War film in every sense, widely used for stockshots even today. It established the basic structure of the 'big battle' film, which was to continue for a further two productions until the spring of 1917. The only British official film to have a major impact on the perception of the war, both at the time and in historical terms. Also the only official film of the war with a claim to be regarded as great art in its own right. The unprecedented and unexpected public success of this film established cinema as a major factor in British propaganda for the rest of the war.
