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0:00:33 > 0:00:37- The 1st July 1916 - - a day of slaughter...
0:00:38 > 0:00:41- ..and a truly tragic one - for the British Army at the Somme.
0:00:42 > 0:00:47- 100,000 men went over the top - - 20,000 were killed...
0:00:47 > 0:00:49- ..and a further 40,000 injured.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54- But the horrors of the first day's - fighting at the Somme...
0:00:54 > 0:01:00- ..overshadow the real tragedy, as - the battle raged on for five months.
0:01:00 > 0:01:05- The scale of the disaster - was slow to reach GHQ and Haig.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07- Some reports had been - over-optimistic...
0:01:08 > 0:01:11- ..regarding aspects of the attack - and what had been achieved.
0:01:12 > 0:01:14- Despite the information - slowly trickling back...
0:01:14 > 0:01:18- ..not even the most optimistic - reports could hide the fact...
0:01:18 > 0:01:23- ..that the first day's objectives - had failed and casualties were high.
0:01:24 > 0:01:29- But Haig and Rawlinson were stubborn - men and the attacks would continue.
0:01:30 > 0:01:34- There had been some gains to the - south of the line on the first day.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38- This is where Rawlinson tried - to press on.
0:01:41 > 0:01:48- By 3rd July, the British had reached - the southern edge of Mametz Wood...
0:01:48 > 0:01:51- ..and had already claimed - Bernafay Wood.
0:01:52 > 0:01:57- If further attacks were to be made - on the second German line...
0:01:57 > 0:02:00- ..then Mametz Wood had to be taken.
0:02:00 > 0:02:04- The task fell - to the new Army's 38th Division.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08- They were, of course, - the Welsh division.
0:02:08 > 0:02:13- Mametz Wood, the biggest wood - on the Somme front line...
0:02:13 > 0:02:16- ..is nearly a mile wide - and a mile deep.
0:02:16 > 0:02:21- The wood was thick with undergrowth - and was heavily fortified...
0:02:21 > 0:02:26- ..with the machine guns of one - of the most feared regiments...
0:02:26 > 0:02:30- ..of the German Army - the Lehr - regiment of the Prussian Guard.
0:02:34 > 0:02:38- The Welsh division chosen - to capture the woods...
0:02:39 > 0:02:42- ..was made up of members - of the South Wales Borderers...
0:02:42 > 0:02:44- ..and Royal Welch Fusiliers.
0:02:45 > 0:02:49- Men from all over Wales - Bangor, - Caernarfon, Mid-Wales, Swansea...
0:02:49 > 0:02:52- ..Cardiff, Rhondda and Newport.
0:02:53 > 0:02:58- Just like most men of this new army, - the men in the division...
0:02:58 > 0:03:01- ..including their leader, - Major-General Ivor Phillips...
0:03:02 > 0:03:05- ..were brave and enthusiastic - but inexperienced.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09- The Welsh division was given - the honour of leading the attack...
0:03:09 > 0:03:11- ..and capturing the wood.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16- I'm walking through a field - of ripe wheat...
0:03:17 > 0:03:20- ..the only thing that now separates - the old German defences...
0:03:21 > 0:03:23- ..up in the trees behind me, - from the British front line...
0:03:24 > 0:03:25- ..a few yards in front of me.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29- The Welsh soldiers - had received thorough training...
0:03:30 > 0:03:34- ..on how to cope with what they - would face on the battlefield.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37- That did not include - training or advice...
0:03:37 > 0:03:43- ..on how to capture a dense wood - by means of a frontal attack...
0:03:43 > 0:03:46- ..against an enemy hidden deep - in the undergrowth...
0:03:46 > 0:03:50- ..with enough machine guns - to withstand any attack.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54- The tragedy is that this carnage - would not have been happened...
0:03:55 > 0:03:58- ..had Rawlinson taken the decision - to press on and take Mametz Wood...
0:03:59 > 0:04:04- ..when the nearby village was - captured on that very first day.
0:04:04 > 0:04:09- Delaying the attacks for one week - gave the Germans the opportunity...
0:04:09 > 0:04:13- ..to reinforce their defences and - set up concealed machine gun posts.
0:04:14 > 0:04:18- After a long march, - 20,000 men of the 38th Division...
0:04:18 > 0:04:21- ..had begun to assemble - on the front line.
0:04:21 > 0:04:26- On the morning of 7th July, a pincer - attack was made on the wood.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29- The 115th Brigade led the assault.
0:04:30 > 0:04:32- The attack was a disaster - from the outset.
0:04:33 > 0:04:35- A smokescreen failed - to provide cover...
0:04:36 > 0:04:38- ..and as they left the confines - of Caterpillar Wood...
0:04:38 > 0:04:42- ..and headed for open land, - all hell was unleashed.
0:04:42 > 0:04:47- Concealed German machine guns - opened up on the Welshmen.
0:04:50 > 0:04:51- There were dreadful casualties.
0:04:52 > 0:04:54- Communication lines were cut.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58- From behind the Welsh soldiers, - at the front of the attack...
0:04:58 > 0:05:03- ..British artillery was trying - to destroy German machine guns.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07- Unbeknown to them, - the shells were falling short...
0:05:08 > 0:05:11- ..and blowing the brave Welshmen - to pieces.
0:05:20 > 0:05:25- In bald military terms, - the attacks were a costly failure.
0:05:26 > 0:05:28- Unsurprisingly, the division - didn't reach the wood...
0:05:29 > 0:05:30- ..let alone capture it.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34- Major-General Ivor Phillips - was relieved of his post...
0:05:34 > 0:05:40- ..and was deemed "ignorant - and woefully inexperienced...
0:05:40 > 0:05:42- ..who failed to inspire confidence - in his men."
0:05:45 > 0:05:49- Three days later, - in the early hours of July 10th...
0:05:49 > 0:05:51- ..the Welsh were to attack again.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54- It was to be a frontal assault - this time.
0:05:54 > 0:05:58- The leading battalions were - men from Swansea and Rhondda.
0:05:59 > 0:06:01- Following a creeping barrage...
0:06:01 > 0:06:03- ..they reached the southern part - of the wood...
0:06:04 > 0:06:06- ..where a fierce battle was fought - in the undergrowth.
0:06:08 > 0:06:15- By 6.30pm, seven battalions of - Welshmen had lost five officers...
0:06:15 > 0:06:18- ..and suffered terrible casualties.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24- As darkness fell, - the men were exhausted.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26- Their nerves - were as taut as bow strings...
0:06:26 > 0:06:28- ..and they were short of water.
0:06:28 > 0:06:32- They dug in as best as they could - for the night.
0:06:32 > 0:06:38- The division was unaware - of how close they came to success.
0:06:38 > 0:06:43- Demoralised by the fierce Welsh - attacks and artillery bombardment...
0:06:44 > 0:06:49- ..the Germans were close - to withdrawing from the wood.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53- But somehow, they managed - to hang on to the wood...
0:06:53 > 0:06:57- ..and reorganised their defences - in the northern part of the wood.
0:06:59 > 0:07:01- Captain Wyn Griffith - describes the desolation...
0:07:01 > 0:07:06- ..and unimaginable horrors of the - woods in his book, 'Up To Mametz'.
0:07:06 > 0:07:10- "There were more corpses than men - but there were worse sights...
0:07:10 > 0:07:12- "..than the corpses.
0:07:12 > 0:07:17- "Limbs and mutilated trunks, - here and there a detached head...
0:07:18 > 0:07:20- "..forming splashes of red - against the green leaves...
0:07:21 > 0:07:25- "..as an advertisement of the horror - of our way of life and death...
0:07:25 > 0:07:27- "..and of our crucifixion - of our youth."
0:07:33 > 0:07:36- Further attacks were made - on the 11th July...
0:07:38 > 0:07:41- ..as fresh Welsh battalions - pushed the Germans out...
0:07:41 > 0:07:43- ..to the outer edges of the wood.
0:07:43 > 0:07:48- Loss of life had been considerable - but the fighting continued.
0:07:49 > 0:07:54- At one stage, friendly fire rained - down on the Welshmen.
0:07:54 > 0:08:01- Captain Wyn Griffith sent runners - to put a stop to the barrage.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05- One of the runners was his - younger brother, Watcyn.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08- Although the message got through - safely, Watcyn was killed...
0:08:09 > 0:08:10- ..as he tried to return.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14- Captain Wyn Griffith sent - his brother to his death...
0:08:14 > 0:08:16- ..in order to save his men.
0:08:16 > 0:08:21- The official records note the - losses of the 38th Welsh division...
0:08:21 > 0:08:27- ..as 4,000 officers and men, - either killed, wounded or missing.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32- The gruesome task of clearing the - woods began in the ensuing days.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35- In his famous book, - 'Goodbye To All That'...
0:08:36 > 0:08:39- ..Robert Graves describes - one horrific scene.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44- I came across - two unforgettable corpses.
0:08:44 > 0:08:48- A man of the South Wales Borderers - and one of the Lehr regiment...
0:08:48 > 0:08:52- ..had succeeded in bayoneting - each other simultaneously.
0:08:54 > 0:08:59- Today, the area around Mametz Wood - is a peaceful place...
0:08:59 > 0:09:01- ..with birdsong filling the air.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04- The land itself is very fertile, - agricultural land.
0:09:04 > 0:09:08- Fields of wheat, barley - and sweetcorn.
0:09:09 > 0:09:10- It's very good land.
0:09:11 > 0:09:13- But when the farmer ploughs - his fields...
0:09:13 > 0:09:15- ..he has no idea - what he might come across.
0:09:16 > 0:09:20- In just 15 minutes, - I've found pieces of shells...
0:09:21 > 0:09:27- ..a piece of an old bayonet - and even some bullets.
0:09:28 > 0:09:31- One still has the powder inside.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36- This is all still here, - 90 years later.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39- The land is still unsafe today.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42- Agricultural land is still - dangerous to plough.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00- Iolo, did you know - there's been controversy...
0:10:00 > 0:10:01- ..about the battle at Mametz...
0:10:02 > 0:10:04- ..and the conduct of the men - who fought there?
0:10:05 > 0:10:09- The Welsh division - withdrew from the line...
0:10:10 > 0:10:13- ..but there was no recognition - of their bravery or sacrifice.
0:10:14 > 0:10:18- There were even whispers - of cowardice and panic.
0:10:19 > 0:10:21- At the end of the war - it was suggested...
0:10:22 > 0:10:25- ..that Welsh indecision - was to blame...
0:10:25 > 0:10:28- ..for taking five days - to clear the woods.
0:10:29 > 0:10:33- That prevented the 4th Army - from making significant advances...
0:10:33 > 0:10:34- ..on the Somme.
0:10:35 > 0:10:37- As a Welshman, - that makes my blood boil.
0:10:37 > 0:10:41- It's totally unjust - and a dreadful stigma.
0:10:42 > 0:10:46- Just imagine coming here - to start the attack.
0:10:46 > 0:10:51- These men were met - by a hailstorm of bullets.
0:10:51 > 0:10:55- I can't imagine that any other - division in the British Army...
0:10:56 > 0:11:00- ..could have captured the biggest - woods on the Somme front line...
0:11:00 > 0:11:03- ..not to mention - one that was so strongly defended.
0:11:04 > 0:11:06- That's so unfair.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09- I think it's easy for us - to look back now, Hywel...
0:11:10 > 0:11:13- ..but if they'd done as the - soldiers asked and pushed forward...
0:11:14 > 0:11:18- ..on that very first day, I'm sure - they would have captured the woods.
0:11:19 > 0:11:22- There were very few German soldiers - with machine guns left...
0:11:22 > 0:11:25- ..but they had time - to bring in more men.
0:11:25 > 0:11:27- That's why the attack failed.
0:11:28 > 0:11:33- I think we agree that they were - poorly led at the very outset...
0:11:33 > 0:11:38- ..but even that should not diminish - the soldiers' and officers' bravery.
0:11:38 > 0:11:42- They were asked to perform - a suicidal mission.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46- Blame must be laid squarely - at the feet of GHQ...
0:11:47 > 0:11:49- ..for giving them such - an impossible task...
0:11:49 > 0:11:52- ..and expecting them to achieve it - within an impossible time scale.
0:11:53 > 0:11:57- I think it's a miracle - that the Welsh division...
0:11:57 > 0:12:01- ..did manage to clear those woods - in five days.
0:12:01 > 0:12:07- I think it's a testament - to their bravery.
0:12:07 > 0:12:12- Yes, and another testimony - is the striking memorial...
0:12:12 > 0:12:15- ..that was built 70 years later, - in 1987.
0:12:15 > 0:12:19- Many other divisions may have - had a memorial immediately...
0:12:20 > 0:12:22- ..but it took a long time - to get this one.
0:12:22 > 0:12:24- I think it's very important - to remember.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27- It's especially important - for us as Welsh people.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32- Today, Mametz Wood itself - is never visited.
0:12:32 > 0:12:36- It's a very dark, silent place...
0:12:36 > 0:12:40- ..and nature almost seems to have - covered every trace...
0:12:41 > 0:12:47- ..including the hundreds of Welsh - bodies that still lie there.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50- I crossed the field and walked - to the edge of the wood...
0:12:51 > 0:12:53- ..and as you say, there's something - very dark about it.
0:12:54 > 0:12:56- One doesn't feel one has the right - to trespass there.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59- # THE LAST POST #
0:13:22 > 0:13:24- "Woe that I live - in this bitter age...
0:13:24 > 0:13:27- ..as God retreats - to a distant horizon.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30- "The boys' cry - is carried on the wind...
0:13:31 > 0:13:33- ..and their blood mingles - with the rain."
0:13:36 > 0:13:38- # THE LAST POST #
0:14:06 > 0:14:06- 888
0:14:08 > 0:14:10- 888
0:14:14 > 0:14:17- We leave the dark, imposing woods - at Mametz...
0:14:17 > 0:14:19- ..and within minutes, - reach another forest...
0:14:20 > 0:14:22- ..steeped in tragic memories - - Delville Wood.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26- This was also strongly defended - by the Germans...
0:14:26 > 0:14:29- ..and proved almost impossible - to capture.
0:14:34 > 0:14:40- On the morning of 14th July, - over 3,000 men and officers...
0:14:40 > 0:14:43- ..from South Africa - were ready to attack the wood.
0:14:47 > 0:14:51- When the unit re-formed on the 20th - July, following a fierce battle...
0:14:51 > 0:14:55- ..there were only 29 officers - and 751 men left.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00- The South Africans were commanded - to capture and secure the wood...
0:15:00 > 0:15:01- ..no matter what the cost.
0:15:01 > 0:15:05- We must remember that the Germans - launched a brave counter-attack...
0:15:05 > 0:15:08- ..to try and keep hold - of the wood.
0:15:08 > 0:15:11- Today, there's an appropriate - memorial here...
0:15:12 > 0:15:13- ..to the South Africans' bravery.
0:15:14 > 0:15:18- Isn't it a shame that the same - official respect was not shown...
0:15:18 > 0:15:19- ..to the Welsh soldiers?
0:15:19 > 0:15:21- They had to wait many years.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24- Thank heavens the dragon - now stands there.
0:15:24 > 0:15:28- A memorial paid for by people - who acknowledge past trials.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32- The battle and the slaughter - continued...
0:15:32 > 0:15:35- ..in other woods and villages - along the front line...
0:15:35 > 0:15:41- ..at High Wood, Guillemont, - Ginchy, Flers and Poiziers.
0:15:45 > 0:15:50- The British fought several - battles until the end of November.
0:15:51 > 0:15:56- In the weeks following - the slaughter on the 1st July...
0:15:56 > 0:16:00- ..the Germans also suffered - terrible losses.
0:16:00 > 0:16:05- General Erich Von Falkenhayn - had decreed...
0:16:05 > 0:16:09- ..that they would not concede - an inch of land to the British...
0:16:10 > 0:16:14- ..even if that meant fighting - to the last soldier's death.
0:16:18 > 0:16:23- The battle raged on at the Somme, - as a result of Haig's obsession...
0:16:23 > 0:16:27- ..with breaking through enemy lines - and the Germans' stubborn defence.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31- This piece of land - is only twenty miles long...
0:16:31 > 0:16:34- ..but every yard of it witnessed - death and injury.
0:16:35 > 0:16:41- It's estimated that over 400,000 - British and Allied men...
0:16:41 > 0:16:44- ..were wounded or killed here.
0:16:45 > 0:16:47- If we add German casualties - to the total...
0:16:48 > 0:16:50- ..the figure reaches 600,000.
0:16:55 > 0:16:57- Not all the battles - took place on land...
0:16:57 > 0:16:59- ..as they fought fiercely - in the skies overhead...
0:17:00 > 0:17:03- ..where Baron Manfred von Richthofen - reigned supreme.
0:17:03 > 0:17:09- He was the legendary 'Red Baron' - who shot down 80 enemy planes.
0:17:21 > 0:17:27- On Sunday 21st April 1918, just to - prove he was not superstitious...
0:17:28 > 0:17:30- ..Richthofen had his photograph - taken with his engineer...
0:17:30 > 0:17:32- ..before they took to the skies.
0:17:32 > 0:17:36- It was considered an unlucky thing - to do before battle...
0:17:36 > 0:17:38- ..and he paid the price for it.
0:17:38 > 0:17:40- This was to be his last campaign.
0:17:41 > 0:17:44- He was shot down over brickworks - near Corbie.
0:17:45 > 0:17:47- The Australians claimed - they shot him down...
0:17:48 > 0:17:52- ..a claim contested by the - Royal Flying Corps' Captain Brown.
0:17:57 > 0:18:02- Such was the Red Baron's notoriety - that the Australians buried him...
0:18:02 > 0:18:04- ..with full military honours.
0:18:04 > 0:18:08- But the story doesn't end there, - as he was reburied...
0:18:08 > 0:18:11- ..without his skull - in different graveyards.
0:18:12 > 0:18:17- It was almost as though someone had - decided he would not rest in peace.
0:18:20 > 0:18:25- The Somme saw more brutal fighting - during the last year of the war.
0:18:25 > 0:18:30- In a last effort, the Germans - swept over the old battlefields...
0:18:30 > 0:18:32- ..once again in 1918.
0:18:32 > 0:18:36- By the summer of that year, - their power had long diminished...
0:18:37 > 0:18:39- ..and they were pushed back - over the bloody fields...
0:18:39 > 0:18:43- ..by British and Allied forces - until the German armistice...
0:18:43 > 0:18:46- ..on the 11th November 1918.
0:18:58 > 0:19:00- Today, it's a peaceful place.
0:19:00 > 0:19:04- A strange sense of calm can be felt - as you walk through the fields.
0:19:06 > 0:19:10- And there, at the centre of the - plains on high ground...
0:19:10 > 0:19:14- ..stands the largest memorial - to the Somme.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21- Hywel, we've reached the end - of our journey through the Somme...
0:19:22 > 0:19:23- ..here at Thiepval.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27- It's hard to believe that there - was once a small village here...
0:19:28 > 0:19:31- ..that was destroyed by bombing - during the war.
0:19:31 > 0:19:36- They've built a striking - memorial here.
0:19:37 > 0:19:41- It's the largest British memorial - in the world.
0:19:41 > 0:19:47- The names of 73,000 British - and South African men...
0:19:48 > 0:19:55- ..who lost their lives at the Somme - are listed on the white stones.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59- Their bodies were never found.
0:19:59 > 0:20:01- They still lie in the soil here, - somewhere.
0:20:01 > 0:20:05- Having visited the Somme, - I now understand...
0:20:05 > 0:20:11- ..why every city, town and village - at home has a memorial.
0:20:14 > 0:20:19- I also find it interesting - that they take such great care...
0:20:20 > 0:20:22- ..of the graveyards - and monuments here.
0:20:22 > 0:20:25- There's no doubt about it - - they are memorable.
0:20:26 > 0:20:30- You talk of remembering, - and here at Thiepval...
0:20:30 > 0:20:34- ..no-one knows what happened - to the men whose names are listed.
0:20:35 > 0:20:39- A line of poetry by Robert Williams - Parry springs to mind.
0:20:40 > 0:20:42- "They will live, without a grave."
0:20:43 > 0:20:46- I'm also struck - by the fact that you walk a lot...
0:20:47 > 0:20:50- ..but neither you nor anyone else...
0:20:50 > 0:20:55- ..will walk 18 more poignant miles - than the Somme.
0:20:56 > 0:21:00- We've been very emotional - in some places...
0:21:00 > 0:21:04- ..and been floored from time - to time. Would you agree?
0:21:04 > 0:21:08- Yes, we have - but something - has also lifted my spirits.
0:21:09 > 0:21:13- There's been brutal fighting at all - the places we've visited...
0:21:13 > 0:21:18- ..and there's been death here, - yet nature is thriving...
0:21:19 > 0:21:20- ..and we can even hear birdsong.
0:21:21 > 0:21:28- It's almost as though nature is - trying to hide man's wastefulness.
0:21:29 > 0:21:31- It does lift your spirits.
0:21:32 > 0:21:34- You can't beat nature - in that respect.
0:21:35 > 0:21:42- As we walked around the memorial, - I remembered a poem by Gwenallt.
0:21:42 > 0:21:47- It's called 'Y Meirwon' (The Dead) - and in that poem he looks back...
0:21:47 > 0:21:51- ..at the lives of his own people - in industrial Glamorgan.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53- He ponders on the meaning - of their lives...
0:21:54 > 0:21:59- ..and as he draws to a close, the - things that stay in his memory...
0:21:59 > 0:22:04- ..are family, community, - sacrifice and man's suffering.
0:22:04 > 0:22:08- That's what we have here - - the sacrifice and suffering...
0:22:08 > 0:22:11- ..of thousands upon thousands - of soldiers.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15- It makes you think of the families - and communities that lost them...
0:22:16 > 0:22:20- ..and the grief and endless longing - they felt.
0:22:21 > 0:22:25- It's hard to imagine - a more appropriate place...
0:22:26 > 0:22:28- ..to end a journey along the Somme.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31- "The only thing that remains - in my memory...
0:22:32 > 0:22:36- ..is family, community, - sacrifice and man's suffering."
0:22:36 > 0:22:37