The Battle of the Somme in pictures: The Battle of the Somme has come to define the brutal trench warfare of the First World War

The Battle of the Somme (1 July - 18 November 1916) was a joint operation between British and French forces intended to achieve a decisive victory over the Germans on the Western Front

For many in Britain, the resulting battle remains the most painful and infamous episode of the First World War.

Pictures copyright Press Association

17. Soup for the Poilus (French troops) in front of a house organized by the Germans for an observer

Soup for the Poilus (French troops) in front of a house organized by the Germans for an observer:- Photo: PA Photos:PA

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18. Different types of French soldiers along the River Somme. From left, A. Turco (Algerian sharpshooter), a marine and a Zouave.

Different types of French soldiers along the River Somme. From left, A. Turco (Algerian sharpshooter), a marine and a Zouave.:- Photo: PA

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19. French troops concentrated in the shelter of a valley an hour before the attack on Sailly Saillisel.

French troops concentrated in the shelter of a valley an hour before the attack on Sailly Saillisel.:- Photo: PA Photos:PA

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20. A carrying party of British troops take a batch of duck-boards across marshy ground, during the Battle of the Somme.

A carrying party of British troops take a batch of duck-boards across marshy ground, during the Battle of the Somme.:- Photo: PA

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