Britain's Prince Charles called the World War I battle "a most profound shock" for his nation, and "an unutterable hell."

Ceremonies around the world honored the soldiers of 20 nationalities who died and those who survived the British-led push against German forces. Four months of trench warfare ravaged the Somme region and left more than 1.2 million people dead, wounded or held prisoner.

Britain feels the battle's scars most deeply. July 1, 1916, was the deadliest day the British army ever saw, leaving 20,000 victims.

Until the Somme, Britain had thought it could beat the Germans easily. But when the British-led soldiers climbed out of their trenches that morning, volleys of machine gun fire greeted them, mowing them down. Torrential rains later turned the battleground into a muddy quagmire.

The Japan Times Weekly: July 8, 2006
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