Four Heroes of Verdun

 The Battle of Verdun was the longest lasting battle of the Great War. Operations began in February 1916 and closed in December 1916. The German High Command conceived the battle to bleed the French army dry. This was to be undertaken by the mass use of the German artillery, which in numbers and calibre of guns, was greatly superior to those which the French could muster. After the opening of the Battle of the Somme, the initiative gradually swung back to the French army with the French eventually mounting a counter offensive. It was a battle which resulted in large numbers of casualties to both sides; almost inevitable when the guns dominated the battlefield. It was also a battle where the artillery destroyed the landscape and reduced villages to rubble. In a battle dominated by the artillery, it is difficult to conceive of individual acts of heroism. Yet, there were a number of occasions where individuals played a pivotal role in fashioning events. The talk will be concentrating on four heroes who stood out for their courage. Three heroes are from the battle of the forts which ringed Verdun. It was a type of warfare unknown to the British army and also not commonly experienced elsewhere on the Western Front.    

Members and non-members of The Western Front Association are equally welcome. Any new members are guaranteed a friendly atmosphere and a warm welcome from a group of like-minded enthusiasts