The Somme -
from Defeat to Victory
This major documentary for BBC1, made to coincide with the 90th Anniversary of The Battle of The Somme, sought to challenge the myths of the Somme battle.
The Director, Detlef Siebert, wanted to tell the true story of the battle and chose to concentrate on one particular part of the battlefield; Thiepval, and tell the story in detail instead of trying to cover the whole, very complex, battle.
Originally it was intended to film the production in Poland but, after much persuasion, the BBC agreed to film at our location in Suffolk.
Khaki Devil played a major role in the production. We designed and built several acres of British and German Trenches. Supplying most of the uniforms, equipment, props, plus the majority of the weapons and all the specialist extras too.
Historical Advice:
Historical Military Adviser: Taff Gillingham
Taff provided a great deal of background information to Detlef and helped with the scriptwriting as well as organising the action sequences from rest areas to battle scenes.
Costume Supervisor: Dickie Ingram
Dickie's vast experience made sure that all the actors and extras were properly dressed at all times and that the details, which are so often missed on this kind of production, were all faithfully observed.
Costume and Props:
A great deal of care was taken to make sure the insignia was correct for each of the units portrayed. The original Operational Orders were consulted and the correct battle patches were recreated. A great deal of time and care was taken to create the detail in each shot. This attention to detail is certainly reflected in the completed film.
Specialist Extras:
Well over 100 extras were provided for the production; the vast majority being experienced in this kind of work which made organising the large battle scenes very easy.
