麻豆约拍

In the opening hours of the battle, soldiers who were not far behind the front line were hearing sketchy reports of what was happening to their comrades.

James Heffer, 18, was with the Cambridgeshire Regiment a few miles north of the front line and hearing snippets of news intended for his commanders.

His son, the journalist Simon Heffer, has been reading James' diary from 1st July 1916, where he recorded: "We hear the British and French are advancing in the Somme."

(Photo: James Heffer Credit: 麻豆约拍)