During the summer of 1916, the war entered its third year and hopes were pinned on a new strategy to end the conflict. The 'big push' would see wave after wave of men go over the top of the trenches to tackle the German defences head on. It was here that newly formed 'Pals Battalions' - made up of friends from the same street, factory or football team - joined the battle-hardened troops for what became known as The Battle of the Somme.The planned walkover of the 'big push' turned into the bloodiest battle of the war, and the decisive breakthrough became a decisive failure with 60,000 casualties – the British Army's single biggest loss in a day. In this episode we hear incredible stories of bravery from those who survived the battle, along with stretcher-bearers who tended to the wounded and the dying.