Saturday, 10 September 2016

Day Seventy Two on the Somme



Sunday 10th September 1916: From our Correspondent in the Field

This morning 56th (London) Division, having attacked north from Leuze Wood attacked south-east from the wood, but met with such a wall of machine gun fire that the attack was stopped in its tracks. This afternoon a second attempt has, we understand, fared no better, this time heavy artillery bombardment being the cause.

Lieutenant O A R Beale

The 1st Battalion have not left the Somme area so quickly as we had anticipated. Today one hundred tired men found a working party at Grovetown Station near Morlancourt, loading and unloading supplies. We have heard that a draft of 67 other ranks has arrived as replacements for those killed. Captain M W Halford has joined the battalion from 1st Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment as second-in-command after the death of Major Lawder on 4th September. Lieutenant O A R Beale tells me he has become the Acting Adjutant.


Source: X550/2/5

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