100 years ago tonight, the bloodiest day ever in England's military history began, early in the morning 140,000 men went over the top and charged the German trenches, by nightfall 20,000 would be dead and another 40,000 wounded.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England's foam.

Yep, life was so cheap back then.