Queen's Lancashire Regimental Museum

The bloodiest day in British History

The 1 July in 1916 is known as the bloodiest day in British history. It was the first day of the Battle of the Somme in the First World War. More British soldiers were killed that day than on any other – over 20,000 men. Lots of them were from Lancashire and were in groups called ‘The Pals’. Stanley Bewsher from Accrington was there. He wore his helmet on 1 July and it helped to save his life. You can come and see the helmet at the Queen’s Lancashire Regimental Museum. It’s got a hole in it where a piece of shrapnel hit him but he survived - that was a close shave.