Tuesday, 9 August 2016

Day Forty on the Somme

Wednesday 9th August 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field



The adjutant of 6th Bedfords, attached to 34th Division and currently at Bazentin-le-Petit, that they were involved last night in fighting which claimed one officer and eight other ranks killed, twenty five other ranks missing and two officers and forty nine other ranks wounded.



At Guillemont another attack was made this morning at 4.20. It was met with withering machine-gun fire. An attack south of the railway line was also made by 2nd Division and also failed. Sadly, the men of the 2nd Division who reached Guillemont Station yesterday and those of 55th Division who got into Guillemont near the quarry  on the western side of the village have been killed or captured. I am told parties could be seen through field glasses, being marched away by the Germans.


The 4th Australian Division attacked north-west from Pozières today, along the ridge. The fighting was intense but the German trench known as Park Lane was captured. This is important as it defends a place called Mouquet Farm, which the Germans still hold.

Source: X550/7/1

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