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The Official View

The infantry officer's view

The artillery officer's view

18 Durham Light Infantry

Details about the Battle of the Somme

Lessons learned from the Somme

Extract from a brief history of 18 DLI. (DUL ref: Lowe Papers File B1)

The experience of 18 Durham Light Infantry

This source gives brief details of the movements of 18 DLI during the First World War. Read it carefully to see what it tells you about what it was like to fight in the Battle of the Somme. A transcript and enlarged version are available.

Things to consider.

1. Where were the battalion in the latter part of 1915 and early 1916? What were they doing?

2. Was this good preparation for what they were asked to do at the Battle of the Somme? Explain your answer.

3. What happened to the Battalion in July?

4. Did the Battalion fare any better in 1917?

5. What does this source tell us about what it was like to fight in the Battle of the Somme?

Go to the previous source