The Germans Make an Advance

Map showing Frise (right) and Suzanne (left)

Saturday 29th January 1916: the adjutant of the 2nd Battalion revealed that yesterday morning the Germans began shelling the area where the Battalion is billeted at Suzanne on the north bank of the River Somme. The enemy used high explosive, shrapnel and poison gas and the bombardment lasted throughout the day. Only one man was wounded, however, as the Bedfords were not the target. It became apparent in the afternoon that the French immediately south of the river were the beneficiaries of the Germans’ attention and the village of Frise and high ground south of that village were taken by assault, the enemy advancing his line some half a mile on a frontage of 500 yards. By nightfall the shelling ceased. One wonders if a full scale German offensive is under way or whether this was an isolated incident(1)

Source: X550/3/wd

(1) The great German offensive against the French to the south around Verdun would begin on 21st February.