On 25th September 1915, and for a few days afterwards, the small town of Loos, between Lens and La Bassee in Northern France, became the centre of one of the most intense and bloody battles of the First World War. The casualties were appalling - about 60,000, most of whom died on the first day. Although the main objective of a large-scale breakthrough, was not achieved, some 8,000 yards of enemy trench were captured and in some places the German defences were penetrated by up to two miles. Had these initial gains been exploited the course of the war might well have been different. Philip...