Hello  Friend,

Today is a day to remember and Thank all the Veterans, and today's Peacekeepers, for their Valiant efforts
to keep our cherished freedoms that we enjoy. 

Generally, when we think of a Crater on our Planet, we think of a Meteor Impact on the Earth's surface.

Aerial View of Lochnargar Crater

However, the Lochnagar Crater, is a very different crater...it is one that was  created by Allied experts
under enemy territory, and was the largest of 17 mines exploded at 7:28am on July 1st at the start of the Battle of the Somme
during WW1.
The mine was packed with 27,216 kilograms of ammo, set in two charges 18 metres apart and 16 metres below.
The explosions constituted what was then the loudest man made sound in history.
Debris was reported to have risen 1200 metres (4000 ft) into the air. The explosion obliterated between 91 and 122
metres of the German dug-outs, thought to have been full of German troops.

The total casualties of the Somme Battles, which lasted several months, and  Allied casualties were almost 624,000 including over
24,000 Canadians. The Germans suffered over 465,000 casualties.

Such are the horrors of war. As German Officer Friedrich Steinbrecher once wrote: "Somme. The history of the world cannot
contain a more ghastly word."

May Peace go with you,

Ray Khan