Selby service marks 100th anniversary of Battle of the Somme

The Battle of the Somme began on July 1, 1916, and was planned as a combined push into Europe by the French, British, Italian and Russian armies.

Selby Abbey

About 60,000 British men were killed on the first day of the battle, and more than a million men were killed by the end of the four-month campaign.

Dr Alan Brown, from Selby College, will give a speech as part of the commemoration on Friday, and called the first day of the Somme "a British military catastrophe".

He said: "Starting at 7.30am on the morning of July 1st, wave upon wave of British and French soldiers left their trenches and walked into a hail of machine-gun and mortar fire.

"The Battle of the Somme lasted 141 days. In that time 481,842 British soldiers were killed or wounded; some 250,000 Frenchmen fell, and more than half a million Germans – 1,325,000 casualties in all. But behind the cold numbers lay an equal amount of personal stories of hope, loyalty and sacrifice."

Young soldiers were later brought in from South Africa, Canada, Australia and New Zealand as the Germans regrouped and launched counter-attacks, until the battle ended on November 18, 1916.

Dr Brown highlighted a letter written by Second Lieutenant Eric Rupert Heaton two days before the battle began as an example of the bravery and sacrifice made by troops during the battle.

It read: "Dearest mother and father – we shall soon attack, and I cannot tell if it is God’s will that I should come through. But if I fall, then I have no regrets save for my loved ones I leave behind.

"It is a great cause and I came out willingly to serve my King and Country. This life abroad has taught me many things, and if I fall do not let things be black for you. Be cheerful and you will be living life always to my memory."

Lieutenant Heaton was killed in the first wave on the first day at 7.45am.

The Selby service is organised by the town council and begins at 10.30am on Friday.