pferguson | June 30, 2023
The Mines On the first day of the Battle of the Somme (1 July 1916), 19 mines were detonated. Eight large and eleven smaller charges prepared by tunneling units of the British Army exploded on the German frontline. Both the mines at Lochnagar (detonated at 7:28 AM) and Hawthorn Ridge (detonated at 7:20 AM) were, […]
pferguson | June 29, 2022
The Darkest of Days The Battle of the Somme lasted for 141 days ending 18 November 1916. During its time the British Army and associated units of the British Commonwealth, including Canada, suffered some 650,000 casualties…200,000 lost their lives. It is, however, the first day…1 July 1916 that speaks with the loudest of voices…54,740 British […]
pferguson | July 1, 2019
La Boiselle this day so many years ago… This Day – 1 July 2019 When I can…I walk this ground, towards La Boiselle… We are in this place, peaceful now, but where the hearts of men once beat with adrenaline as they advanced. Their rhythms interrupted by the stuttering power of the seemingly endless machine […]
pferguson | July 1, 2017
July 1 – Remembrance and Celebration Its Canada’s birthday a time to reflect on the past 150 years of counting though we well recognize that there was much time before the counting. We celebrate our achievements, cast our minds upon our foibles, provide recognition, and generally say good things about ourselves. Within the glow of […]
pferguson | July 3, 2016
IN THE GREAT ADVANCE Canadian Officer’s Graphic Letter. The following is a letter from a young Canadian serving with an English regiment – an officer in the first line on the first day of the big offensive: – July 1. I am writing this in a dug-out about 200 yards from German lines. […]
