On this day, 100 years ago, 100,000 allied troops left their muddy trenches to charge across No-man’s Land. Almost 20,000 British men lost their lives in a single day’s fighting, the bloodiest day in the history of the British Army.

For five months British and French armies fought the Germans along a 15-mile front, on what has become one of the most famous battles of the First World War.

Almost every community in Britain felt the impact, and in certain areas, where badly affected regiments had been drawn from the local populace, the loss was devastating.

In tribute to the brave men who gave their lives in Northern France, we are asking our readers to send in their stories and pictures about the war.

Send your contributions to nhitchens@london.newsquest.co.uk

The story of Charles Waller