July 1st was the 87th anniversary of the start of the battle of the Somme, one of the most tragic – and heroic – days in the history of the British army. It was marked with a ceremony in London yesterday – and some welcome news. The government is making a substantial contribution to a fund to help buy Thiepval wood, one of the starting points for the big push, and a place where many Tommies were to meet their death. There’s a good report on this in the Daily Telegraph. It includes a wonderful photograph – of William Stone, 102, a sailor of the Great War.