Sunday 28 August 2016

The Somme News - No.8

Day fifty-three of the Battle of the Somme has seen two very determined counter-attacks led by German soldiers south of Thiepval beaten off. Whilst this was taking place, Henry Rawlinson received a visit from Douglas Haig, who paid a visit to chide Henry about Guillemont still not being in British hands this far into the battle.

Day fifty-four of the battle and fighting is continuing in the south of Thiepval, whilst strong German attacks at Guillemont have been fought off. Henry Rawlinson has also just received the news that twelve of the news weapons called tanks have arrived and will soon commence in battle.

Day fifty-five has been a busy day. Further progress has been made by the British soldiers towards Thiepval and to the north-west part of Delville wood, whilst numerous German attacks to the west of Ginchy have been driven off.

Day fifty-six of the Battle of the Somme has, despite constant heavy rain, seen a German attack situated at the south of Thiepval repulsed. I am pleased to report that the enemy has also been driven out of Delville Wood and a line has been established along the north east edge.

Day fifty-seven and the rain just keeps falling. The German soldiers have yet again launched a counter-attack near Thiepval, they are certainly determined. Henry Rawlinson has also spent the day watching the new tanks in training and remarked to a colleague that whilst he was impressed with them, he thought that their crews needed much more training for battle conditions to make them ready.  

Day fifty-eight of the battle, soldiers are uncomfortably soaked and are extremely tired after the numerous counter-attacks of the past week that have been launched by the German's. We received the news today that Italy has declared war on Germany, but that won't make much difference to the soldiers here in the trenches, especially the Third Brigade who have just launched an attack at Grevillers.

As week number eight and day fifty-nine draws to a close I am to report that due to the considerable rainfall of the previous few days, the conditions here in the trenches are getting worse, with some trenches reportedly being ankle deep in water. In other news, Launcelot Kiggell has paid a visit to Henry Rawlinson today, where they have spent their time discussing the best way to use the tanks in battle. 

Remember to check back on the 4th September for the latest news. 

Sunday 21 August 2016

The Somme News - No. 7

Day forty-five of the battle has seen no action. The day has been showery and the soldiers in the trenches are both wet and tired.

Day forty-six of the battle has seen nothing to report of fighting. The King said farewell to those he had met on his visit before returning to Britain. Heavy rainfall during the evening which is carrying on into the night could make conditions more difficult tomorrow.

The forty-seventh day of the Battle of the Somme has seen another day of rain. Despite this, British soldiers have been able to advance west and south west of Guillemont. On a flying mission all by himself in his Nieuport Scout, pilot Albert Ball  took on five hostile aeroplanes.

Day forty-eight has seen a showery day without action. Soldiers have been able to write home, as well as get some rest. Thoughts are now turning to how much longer both the battle and the war are going to go on for and whether it will be finished before the cold winter weather arrives. 

On this forty-ninth day of the battle we have seen even more rain. On the plus side ground has been gained by British soldiers towards Ginchy and Guillemont. News that an enemy aircraft has crashed near High Wood is also filtering through.

Day fifty of the Battle of the Somme has not only seen more rain, it has also seen British soldiers gaining ground in the Thiepval area.

Day fifty-one of the battle has arrived and German soldiers are currently staging a counter-attack near Thiepval.

Day fifty-two and eight weeks since the Battle of the Somme began, progress is being made by Allied soldiers north west of Pozieres whilst German soldiers are continuing with their counter-attack near Thiepval.

Remember to check back on the 28th August for the latest news. 

Sunday 14 August 2016

The Somme News - No. 6

Day thirty-nine of the Battle of the Somme and the British fighting at Guillemont continues. By the end of the day, the station and northern parts of the village have been captured but the southern end hasn't as of yet.

Renewed Allied attacks against Guillemont during day forty have sadly failed.

Day forty-one has unfortunately brought the rain again. Despite this, spirits are high as King George 5th visited the front earlier today, with Rawlinson showing His Majesty the craters at Bois Francais. Whilst on this visit, the King told Rawlinson of a Cabal back in England that is set to oust Haig as well as curbing the current offensive. The members of the cabal include Lord French, Winston Churchill and F.E. Smith. In other news, British soldiers have made progress north west of Pozieres.

Day forty-two has been a stormy day with no other events to report. Soldiers have spent the day writing to loved ones, as well as resting and preparing for tomorrow. 

Although raining, day forty-three has seen British soldiers advance a mile on the front north west of Pozieres.

Day forty-four of the battle has seen the 15th Division take Muster Alley.

Remember to check back on the 21st August for the latest news.

Sunday 7 August 2016

The Somme News - No.5

The hottest day of the battle so far is on day thirty-two with a temperature of 61 degrees. regardless of this, a German counter-attack north of Bazentin Le Petit was repulsed. At the same time, heavy fighting is being reported at Verdun.

Day thirty-three has seen more heavy fighting at Verdun. Another German attack at Delville Wood was repulsed again.

I'm pleased to report that on day thirty-four of the Battle of the Somme, British soldiers have gained ground west of Pozieres. French troops have also progressed at Verdun.

More good news on day thirty-five of the battle, Allied soldiers have gained the German Second Line system, a front just 2,000 yards to the north of Pozieres. A German counter-attack at Verdun has been repulsed.

Day thirty-six and I'm pleased to report that the British have advanced their line near Pozieres. meanwhile, Haig has visited Rawlinson and has stated how pleased he was at the Australian success near Pozieres, which included the taking of objectives as well as the capture of several hundreds of prisioners.

Day thirty-seven has seen slight Allied progress to the eat of Pozieres towards Martinpuich.

French soldiers have progressed at Verdun, thirty-eight days after the battle began, whilst British soldiers have concentrated their attack on the outskirts of Guillemont. German attacks to the north & north east of Pozieres have meanwhile been repulsed.

Remember to check back here on the 14th August for the latest news.

Tuesday 2 August 2016

READ ALL ABOUT IT - DAVID LLOYD GEORGE BECOMES SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR

Born on the 17th January 1863, a man that would dedicate post of his life to politics and helping to bring about change for the poor. In 1905 David Lloyd George became the President of the Born of Trade, a position he will hold until 1908. From here, he became Chancellor of the Exchequer on the 12th April and this was were he made one of the biggest changes that we can still see today. From an early age, David had opposed the Poor Law and believed the government should guarantee an income to those who were too old to work. The Poor Law amongst other things stated that no able-bodied person was to receive money or other help from the Poor Law authorities except in the workhouse. This was all about to change as David Lloyd George started his new role. 

As Chancellor of the Exchequer, David introduced the Old Age Pensions Act, its aim to provide from 1s - 5s, a week to people over seventy years old. To qualify, the person had to earn less than 12s a week, so only those who really needed it would benefit. This money needed to be raised from somewhere and so he also introduced the People's Budget, where tax was increased depending on how much you earned, with a Supertax being given to those who earned over £5,000 a year. The rich also had to pay more in death duties, as well as on the profits made through business. Several months later, he also introduced National Insurance to help pay for workers healthcare. These changes meant that for thousands of people living in poverty, they had a change to survive. It wouldn't make them rich, but it would certainly help ease the pressure of everyday life. 

On the 25th May 1915, David Lloyd George left his position as Chancellor of the Exchequer and become the Minister of Munitions as part of the first coalition ministry. Although very little is said about it, David started this position at the time of the 1915 Shell Scandal and so very quickly had to get more people making the shells and transporting them to the front line than ever before. On the 6th of June 1916, David also became Secretary of State For War, taking over from Lord Kitchener upon his sudden death and just one month later on the 9th July, left his position as Minister of Munitions. David Lloyd George as Secretary of State For War did not last long and on the 5th December, he resigned. This was largely due to him being denied permission to chair a small committee that would manage the war.

Despite resigning as Secretary of State For War, by the end of 1916, David Lloyd George had made it to the top. He was now the British Prime Minister, a position he would hold until 1922. During the latter years of the war, David managed to persuade the navy to use a convoy system, explaining that this would be the best and safest way to ship supplies and troops to their various destinations. I believe this to be one of his biggest achievements, not just for the First World War as it was used for many years to come. 

Post war, David Lloyd George attended the Paris Peace Conference on behalf of Britain to help draft the Versailles Treaty. He made he views well known that whilst Germany needed to be punished for what it had done, they also needed to remain strong due to the rising of Communism in Russia. Once the war was won, David was also able to look to the future and tried to set about reforms on education, health, housing and transport but was unfortunately met with huge criticism by other politicians. 

When the Second World War began in 1939, David Lloyd George was asked to help form a war cabinet but he declined with old age and ill health being his reasons. On the 26th March 1945, David Lloyd George died aged 82 years old, yet his strong belief's lived on and post second world war, was partly what inspired the changes brought about that we know today.