The First Day On The Somme by Martin Middlebrook, which I bought in 1992. Middlebrook’s emotive and forthright prose appeals as he tells the story of the the first day through the experiences of those who fought, and it is so personal that you can’t help but be affected by the experiences whilst reading from the very spots they happened. Depending on the day’s exploration, this is a book which perhaps needs marking up before going into the field with relevant tales of raw courage, shambles and sadness.