The author should explain that this volume has had to pass through three lines of censors, suffering heavily in the process. It has come out with the loss of all personal names save those of casualties or of high Generals. Some passages also have been excised. On the other hand it is the first which has been permitted to reveal the exact identity of the units engaged. The missing passages and names will be restored when the days of peace return. ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE. _February_ 3, 1918. {vii} CONTENTS CHAPTER I JANUARY TO JULY 1916 General situation--The fight for the Bluff--The Mound of St. Eloi--Fine performance of Third Division and Canadians--Feat of the 1st Shropshires--Attack on the Irish Division--Fight at Vimy Ridge--Canadian Battle of Ypres--Death of General Mercer--Recovery of lost position--Attack of Thirty-ninth Division--Eve of the Somme CHAPTER II THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME Attack of the Seventh and Eighth Corps on Gommecourt, Serre, and Beaumont Hamel Line of battle in the Somme sector--Great preparations--Advance of Forty-sixth North Midland Division--Advance of Fifty-sixth Territorials (London)--Great valour and heavy losses--Advance of Thirty-first Division--Advance of Fourth Division--Advance of Twenty-ninth Division--Complete failure of the assault CHAPTER III THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME Attack of the Tenth and Third Corps, July 1, 1916 Magnificent conduct of the Ulster Division--Local success but general failure--Advance of Thirty-second Division--Advance of Eighth Division--Advance of Thirty-fourth Division--The turning-point of the line {viii} CHAPTER IV THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME The Attack of the Fifteenth and Thirteenth Corps, July 1, 1916 The advance of the Twenty-first Division--Of the 64th Brigade--First permanent gains--50th Brigade at Fricourt--Advance of Seventh Division--Capture of Mametz--Fine work by Eighteenth Division--Capture of Montauban by the Thirtieth Division--General view of the battle--Its decisive importance CHAPTER V THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME From July 2 to July 14, 1916 General situation--Capture of La Boiselle by Nineteenth Division--Splendid attack by 36th Brigade upon Ovillers--Siege and reduction of Ovillers--Operations at Contalmaison--Desperate fighting at the Quadrangle by Seventeenth Division--Capture of Mametz Wood by Thirty-eighth Welsh Division--Capture of Trones Wood by Eighteenth Division CHAPTER VI THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME The Breaking of the Second Line. July 14, 1916 The great night advance--The Leicester Brigade at Bazentin--Assault by Seventh Division--Success of the Third Division--Desperate fight of Ninth Division at Longueval--Operations of First Division on flank--Cavalry advance CHAPTER VII THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME July 14 to July 31