Welcome back to Scotland Remembers. In this first of three episodes on the Battle of the Somme, Alexander explores the monumental build-up to 1 July 1916 — a day of unfathomable loss and enduring legacy.

While history remembers the tragedy of that first assault, this episode uncovers the lesser-told story: the immense logistical feat behind the lines. From building railways and hauling shells to tending the wounded and patching the roads, the British Army — including thousands of Scots — proved it could sustain a modern war.

This is the story of the unsung heroes whose labour made the battle possible — and of how Scotland helped carry the weight of one of the Great War’s most defining offensives.

The introduction is an extract from "Somme" by Lyn Macdonald.