a finely granular variety of gypsum, often white and translucent, used for ornamental objects or work, such as lamp bases, figurines, etc. 2. Also called Oriental alabaster. a variety of calcite, often banded, used or sold as alabaster.
Battle of the Somme. The Battle of the Somme (French: Bataille de la Somme, German: Schlacht an der Somme), also known as the Somme Offensive, was a battle of the First World War fought by the armies of the British and French empires against the German Empire. It took place between 1 July and 18 November 1916 on both sides of the upper reaches of the River Somme in France
The Battle of the Somme was originally a planned, offensive assault from the British and French commanders with hopes of gaining territory and destroying German manpower.Before they could launch the attack, however, the French city of Verdun became heavily bombarded by the Germans.he Somme was on the western front, and the battle involved the British and some French against the Germans. The Russians were fig â¦ hting hundreds of miles away, on the other side of Germany on the eastern front. The Battle of the Somme was in 1916. Russia did not pull out of the war until 1917.