Researching and writing a WW1 battle History

My Grandfather fought with 'A' Company of the 6th Dorsetshire Regiment from April to November 1918. I have been researching the battles his Regiment, and consequently he, were involved in and there are several bloody encounters. Imagine a hot summer night on the Somme in 1918. You put on your primitive and restrictive gas mask, and wade across a river, sweating and unable to see clearly, whilst being shelled by high explosives and poisonous gas and targeted by machine guns from the hill above. Sounds like a movie score doesn't it?  But this actually occurred on the night of 21/22 August 1918, crossing the River Ancre and attacking the German strong hold of Thiepval Ridge. And my Grandfather, aged 18 was in the lead Platoon when they crossed. This is but one of several such bloody battles.

​The picture shows British Troops along the devastated River Ancre.

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