100 Years: Commemorating The Battle of the #Somme with the brilliant short film ‘Waiting For Dawn’

Remembering my Great Grandfather William J. Tibbles again today, on the centenary of the commencement of the Battle of the Somme.

Lieutenant Corporal William J. Tibbles & his regiment, the 10th London

Signalman Tibbles survived both World Wars, though many of his nearest and dearest did not. I used to visit Great Granddad at the hospice where he saw out his last days, and it was clear that he was traumatised by all he had seen during the Wars.

My Great-Granddad’s typed list of places he visited on active duty in France

This brilliant short film by director Richard Cousins, screenwriter Gareth Rothwell and director of photography Alan Stewart (who i worked with on The Stay, Red Lines & On Edge) is a powerful summation of the futility of the conflict, and its tragic loss of so many (often very young) lives.

I’m delighted that the filmmakers will join me this autumn at Brunel University London to screen and discuss their film, Waiting For Dawn:

“Lest we forget.”