<human>:  When did the Battle of the Somme start?
<bot>: The Battle of the Somme started on July 1, 1916, and lasted until November 18, 1916. It was a major battle in the First World War, and was fought along a 40-mile front between the River Somme and the River Ancre in Northern France. The battle was a turning point in the war and resulted in the capture of a large section of the German front line.