Monday, 15 August 2016

Day Forty Six on the Somme



Tuesday 15th August 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

The adjutant of the 6th Battalion, beds Regiment, tells us that they are now in Bécourt Wood and have suffered one death and two men wounded today from shell fire.

The 8th Battalion, newly arrived on the Somme, have moved into front-line trenches opposite the fortress-village of Beaumont-Hamel. This village saw some of the bloodiest fighting on the first day of this Battle of the Somme and, despite the explosion of a massive mine(1) held out against all attacks.

Last night the Australians attacked Mouquet Farm, north of Pozières but failed to take it. They were overwhelmed by strong counter-attacks and forced to fall back to trenches they had taken a short while earlier.

Sources: X550/7/1; X550/9/1


(1) This mine was filmed by Geoffrey Malins and appears in the film which was shown in cinemas around the country. It is still much-used as stock footage in documentaries on aspects of World War One.

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