This book was first published in 1917, making it one of the earliest battlefield guides of the First World War. Masefield originally intended to write a full official history of the Somme, but when denied access to documents, he instead produced this first‑hand description of the 1 July 1916 front line, based on what he saw. It is still valued today for its evocative, eyewitness portrayal of the Somme terrain. Thus the book has become well known for its depiction of the trench lines and country around the British front lines on 1 July 1916, the Roman Road (now D929) and villages like Pozieres, La Boisselle, Fricourt, Sausage Valley, Contalmaison etc. Its a facsimile reprint, the print is very clear but some illustrations are not reproduced with clarity.