The Somme

This year marks 100 years since the Battle of the Somme. An event that happened before any of us were alive and, in many ways, something that has very little relevance to our lives today.

Regardless of our opinion, religion or belief about what happened, it is an event that we should remember in some small way. 

For me personally, I have tried to contextualise the impact in modern terms. Of the 23 staff, I currently employ nearly 60% of them would have left to fight. Less than half would return, many with horrific physical injuries and all of them suffering some form of mental scar that would stay with them for the remainder of their lives. 

If you think of an average day, think of all the men in your lives aged between, as young as sixteen, through to those in their late twenties. People you sit next to as you head to work, the guy that makes your morning coffee or serves you lunch. The shop assistant, bank teller, teacher, lawyer, accountant or taxi driver you chat with.

The equivalent of 1000 Rugby teams gone, many never to return.

That's worth a minute of your time.

National Library of New Zealand 

New Zealand History online