Welcome to THE STORY OF THE SOMME podcast series, which tells the story of the Somme Offensive in the words of those fighting on the Western Front and their families back home. The series was commissioned by the DEPARTMENT FOR DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT and developed in partnership with the FIRST WORLD WAR CENTENARY BATTLEFIELD TOURS PROGRAMME and CHROMERADIO. It was first released to accompany the SOMME100 VIGIL at Westminster Abbey, held through the night of 30 June/1 July 2016 to mark the centenary of the opening of the Battle of the Somme. In this podcast, SISTER EDIE APPLETON describes hospital life in the days before and after the first day of the Battle of the Somme. Edie Appleton was born in 1877 in Deal in Kent. She trained at St Bartholomew’s Hospital and joined Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service. SOURCE | Robinson Family Personal Collection. PRODUCTION | ChromeRadio for the DEPARTMENT FOR DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT | Producer - Catriona Oliphant | Narrator - Nicholas Rowe | Reader - Lorna Misty, St Albans' Girls School | The Last Post played by LSgt Stuart Laing, Welsh Guards on a First World War bugle.

Welcome to THE STORY OF THE SOMME podcast series, which tells the story of the Somme Offensive in the words of those fighting on the Western Front and their families back home. The series was commissioned by the DEPARTMENT FOR DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT and developed in partnership with the FIRST WORLD WAR CENTENARY BATTLEFIELD TOURS PROGRAMME and CHROMERADIO. It was first released to accompany the SOMME100 VIGIL at Westminster Abbey, held through the night of 30 June/1 July 2016 to mark the centenary of the opening of the Battle of the Somme. In this podcast, DICK ROBINSON talks about his great-aunt, SISTER EDIE APPLETON (PODCAST 15), who was nursing with the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service on the Western Front in the days before and after the men went over the top on 1 July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme. FURTHER INFORMATION | http://anurseatthefront.org.uk/ PRODUCTION | ChromeRadio for the DEPARTMENT FOR DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT | Producer - Catriona Oliphant | The Last Post played by LSgt Stuart Laing, Welsh Guards on a First World War bugle.

Welcome to THE STORY OF THE SOMME podcast series, which tells the story of the Somme Offensive in the words of those fighting on the Western Front and their families back home. The series was commissioned by the DEPARTMENT FOR DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT and developed in partnership with the FIRST WORLD WAR CENTENARY BATTLEFIELD TOURS PROGRAMME and CHROMERADIO. It was first released to accompany the SOMME100 VIGIL at Westminster Abbey, held through the night of 30 June/1 July 2016 to mark the centenary of the opening of the Battle of the Somme. In this podcast, LT GENERAL SIR HEW PIKE talks about his grandfather, MAJOR REGGIE TOMPSON (PODCAST 16), who was in the Royal Field Artillery during the Somme offensive. PRODUCTION | ChromeRadio for the DEPARTMENT FOR DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT | Producer - Catriona Oliphant | The Last Post played by LSgt Stuart Laing, Welsh Guards on a First World War bugle.

Welcome to THE STORY OF THE SOMME podcast series, which tells the story of the Somme Offensive in the words of those fighting on the Western Front and their families back home. The series was commissioned by the DEPARTMENT FOR DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT and developed in partnership with the FIRST WORLD WAR CENTENARY BATTLEFIELD TOURS PROGRAMME and CHROMERADIO. It was first released to accompany the SOMME100 VIGIL at Westminster Abbey, held through the night of 30 June/1 July 2016 to mark the centenary of the opening of the Battle of the Somme. In this podcast, JAMES BIRKIN talks about his great-grandfather, war artist WILLIAM ORPEN (PODCAST 26). PRODUCTION | ChromeRadio for the DEPARTMENT FOR DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT | Producer - Catriona Oliphant | The Last Post played by LSgt Stuart Laing, Welsh Guards on a First World War bugle.

Welcome to THE STORY OF THE SOMME podcast series, which tells the story of the Somme Offensive in the words of those fighting on the Western Front and their families back home. The series was commissioned by the DEPARTMENT FOR DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT and developed in partnership with the FIRST WORLD WAR CENTENARY BATTLEFIELD TOURS PROGRAMME and CHROMERADIO. It was first released to accompany the SOMME100 VIGIL at Westminster Abbey, held through the night of 30 June/1 July 2016 to mark the centenary of the opening of the Battle of the Somme. In this podcast, PHILIP SIMM talks about his grandfather, GEORGE ASHURST, who fought on the Somme, and his adventures recuperating behind the lines and fraternising with the Germans over the Christmas of 1914. PRODUCTION | ChromeRadio for the DEPARTMENT FOR DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT | Producer - Catriona Oliphant | The Last Post played by LSgt Stuart Laing, Welsh Guards on a First World War bugle.

Welcome to THE STORY OF THE SOMME podcast series, which tells the story of the Somme Offensive in the words of those fighting on the Western Front and their families back home. The series was commissioned by the DEPARTMENT FOR DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT and developed in partnership with the FIRST WORLD WAR CENTENARY BATTLEFIELD TOURS PROGRAMME and CHROMERADIO. It was first released to accompany the SOMME100 VIGIL at Westminster Abbey, held through the night of 30 June/1 July 2016 to mark the centenary of the opening of the Battle of the Somme. In this podcast, MAJOR REGGIE TOMPSON, Royal Field Artillery, writes home to his mother from the front. Reggie Tompson was born in 1886. He joined the Royal Field Artillery in 1900 and was a major by the time of the Somme Offensive. SOURCE | IWM Audio Archive. PRODUCTION | ChromeRadio for the DEPARTMENT FOR DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT | Producer - Catriona Oliphant | Narrator - Nicholas Rowe | Reader - Charles Pitt | The Last Post played by LSgt Stuart Laing, Welsh Guards on a First World War bugle.

Welcome to THE STORY OF THE SOMME podcast series, which tells the story of the Somme Offensive in the words of those fighting on the Western Front and their families back home. The series was commissioned by the DEPARTMENT FOR DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT and developed in partnership with the FIRST WORLD WAR CENTENARY BATTLEFIELD TOURS PROGRAMME and CHROMERADIO. It was first released to accompany the SOMME100 VIGIL at Westminster Abbey, held through the night of 30 June/1 July 2016 to mark the centenary of the opening of the Battle of the Somme. In this podcast, KANNONIER HANNS SCHAEFER, writes home to his parents after seeing action on the Somme. Hanns Schaefer was born in 1898. During the War, he served in a Field Artillery Reserve Regiment in the German army. PRODUCTION | ChromeRadio for the DEPARTMENT FOR DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT | Producer - Catriona Oliphant | Narrator - Nicholas Rowe | Reader - Simon Bendry | The Last Post played by LSgt Stuart Laing, Welsh Guards on a First World War bugle.

Welcome to THE STORY OF THE SOMME podcast series, which tells the story of the Somme Offensive in the words of those fighting on the Western Front and their families back home. The series was commissioned by the DEPARTMENT FOR DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT and developed in partnership with the FIRST WORLD WAR CENTENARY BATTLEFIELD TOURS PROGRAMME and CHROMERADIO. It was first released to accompany the SOMME100 VIGIL at Westminster Abbey, held through the night of 30 June/1 July 2016 to mark the centenary of the opening of the Battle of the Somme. In this podcast, we hear from Patrick, the son of 2ND LIEUTENANT EVAN JACK LLOYD. Evan Jack Lloyd was born in Wales on 14 August, 1891. He enlisted in September 1914 and served with the South Staffordshire Regiment before being selected for a commission in the field. He joined the 13th Cheshires in November 1915 as a 2nd Lieutenant and went out with them to the Somme in June 1916. He survived over six weeks of bitter fighting, taking his Company into action on several occasions, and was commended for a decoration. PRODUCTION | ChromeRadio for the DEPARTMENT FOR DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT | Producer - Catriona Oliphant | Narrator - Nicholas Rowe | Reader - Peter Walton | The Last Post played by LSgt Stuart Laing, Welsh Guards on a First World War bugle.

Welcome to THE STORY OF THE SOMME podcast series, which tells the story of the Somme Offensive in the words of those fighting on the Western Front and their families back home. The series was commissioned by the DEPARTMENT FOR DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT and developed in partnership with the FIRST WORLD WAR CENTENARY BATTLEFIELD TOURS PROGRAMME and CHROMERADIO. It was first released to accompany the SOMME100 VIGIL at Westminster Abbey, held through the night of 30 June/1 July 2016 to mark the centenary of the opening of the Battle of the Somme. In this podcast, CORPORAL OSMAN FLOWERS talks about being a driver during the War. Osman Flowers joined up at Doncaster in October 1915. According to his enlistment documents, he was 5’ 6” tall. After two months’ training, he was sent to France as a driver in the Mechanical Transport Section of the Army Service Corps, arriving at Rouen just before Christmas 1915. SOURCE | The Somme, Lyn McDonald PRODUCTION | ChromeRadio for the DEPARTMENT FOR DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT | Producer - Catriona Oliphant | Narrator - Nicholas Rowe | Reader - Patrick McKeating, Pimlico Academy | The Last Post played by LSgt Stuart Laing, Welsh Guards on a First World War bugle.

Welcome to THE STORY OF THE SOMME podcast series, which tells the story of the Somme Offensive in the words of those fighting on the Western Front and their families back home. The series was commissioned by the DEPARTMENT FOR DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT and developed in partnership with the FIRST WORLD WAR CENTENARY BATTLEFIELD TOURS PROGRAMME and CHROMERADIO. It was first released to accompany the SOMME100 VIGIL at Westminster Abbey, held through the night of 30 June/1 July 2016 to mark the centenary of the opening of the Battle of the Somme. In this podcast, RESERVE LEUTNANT HERMANN KOHL describes the new 'landships' in action. Hermann Kohl was 17 when war broke out. He joined the Bavarian Infantry near the Franco-German border, fighting at Ypres in 1915. He was wounded at the Somme, but survived the War, earning the Iron Cross (1st & 2nd Class) for gallantry in action. After the War, he returned to the Rhineland where in 1932 he wrote an account of his war experiences. SOURCE | The German Army on the Somme, Jack Sheldon. PRODUCTION | ChromeRadio for the DEPARTMENT FOR DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT | Producer - Catriona Oliphant | Narrator - Nicholas Rowe | Reader - Simon Bendry | The Last Post played by LSgt Stuart Laing, Welsh Guards on a First World War bugle.