WHISTLE for the Somme was held at 7.30am on Friday, exactly 100 years after the first men went over the top of the trenches in the First World War.

On July 1, 1916, at 7.30am, three blasts of a whistle was the signal for the soldiers to leave their trenches and advance on the German line, with the intention to take control of a 24km stretch of the River Somme.

On the first day of fighting almost 60,000 British soldiers were killed, wounded or taken prisoner, making this one of the bloodiest days of the First World War.

An estimated one million men were killed or wounded during this battle, which lasted until November 18, 1916.

This also included French and German soldiers, and the incursion into the German lines had only made eight kilometres.

To mark this event and to remember those who lost their lives, members of the Launceston branch of the Royal British Legion gathered in the Square by the War Memorial at 7.30am on Friday, where branch chairman, Terry Sully blew three, loud blasts of a whistle.

Branch president, Peter Rowe, said: “It went very well indeed, we had quite a few people turn up, which was good considering the time.”

The mayor, Brian Hogan, was also in attendance, with some members of the town council.

Those in attendance were invited to join the British Legion members in front of the memorial.

Two minutes’ silence were held at 7.28am and Mr Rowe read the exhortation before the whistle was blown.