The Somme Battlefield – The Top 20 Places To Visit by Ruaraidh Adams-Cairns. This is a charming little book given to me by close friends in 2017. It is in the backpack every trip. The title speaks for itself and the places will hold no huge surprises but the prose is fluid, it is written with heart and the stories, as ever, moving and profound. I love it!

148 Days On The Somme by Barry Cuttell. This, rather predictably, is today’s must carry. Same style, maps, details, cross references – and now you know how much I paid for it at Thiepval! Still, no regrets, it’s been very well used over the years and will be agin in September. A gem, I take my hat off to Mr Cuttell!

One Day on The Somme by Barry Cuttell. I bought this at the Thiepval Memorial shop about 10 years ago, I usually date them inside the cover but forgot for this one. Anyway, I love this book – brilliantly detailed, mapped and explained objective by objective. It looks, reads and feels like a work of love and spiral makes it so practical and easy to use. Always in the backpack and not heavy! No prizes for guessing tomorrow’s field book.

SOMME by Lyn Macdonald. Another classic. I think this was my first Somme related purchase back in 1988. This book is probably also best marked up with detail before setting off by foot or bike as it contains a similar mixture of military detail and personal account. Moving and memorable. Brilliant.

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.

When The Barrage Lifts by Gerald Gliddon. This copy dates from 1993 – also well used! Wherever you are on The Somme, Gliddon’s A-Z is a goldmine information . Brilliant and a must take in the field.

The Somme Battlefields by Martin and Mary Middlebrook probably represents the best value I have ever had from a book. This copy I bought in 1998 and as you can see it is well thumbed. Whether walking or cycling it is the first book in the bag. It is organised by area, so easy to navigate and sensitively written. As a guide or simply as a fascinating read, this is a very special book!