The Attack on the Somme Begins

Wednesday 21st August 1918

The great attack by Third Army got underway early this morning. Two corps have been involved. IV and V. IV Corps have been in action in the northern part of the old Somme battlefield. New Zealand Division, eager not to let their cousins from across the Tasman have all the glory supported the attack by 37th Division. The village of Puisieux quickly fell and the division finally ended its advance a good thousand yards beyond. It was then the turn of 5th Division to the south of Bucquoy. This formation advanced two miles during the day and well to the fore was 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment

The Battalion went forward at 4.45 in a misty morning. It encountered but slight opposition and the objective was quickly achieved and consolidated as the 1st Battalion, Norfolk Regiment passed through to attack the next objective. Total casualties - killed and wounded were just 46.

The position of the 1st Battalion tonight

63rd (Royal Naval) Division attacked to the north of Bucquoy and the 4th Bedfords were in support to the attack. First, however, they had to get to their attack positions. The adjutant informed me via the telephone that they had considerable difficulty in getting into position near Foncquevillers as the road was blocked by lorries and a tank but they were all in position by 4.15. The attack was made by 189th Brigade and as the Bedfords followed them up the fog made it difficult to see, meaning they became somewhat disorganised. They then followed five tanks to the central part of the railway between Achiet-le-Grand and Miraumont at which point 189th Brigade dug, the Bedfords consolidating the line shown below just west of Achiet-le-Grand

The position of the 4th Bedfords tonight

Further south V Corps were tasked with crossing the River Ancre, of evil memory from the autumn of 1916. 21st Division were around Grandcourt, 17th (Northern) Division at Hamel and 38th (Welsh) Division around Aveluy. The Ancre, it is reported is as much of a swamp today as it was towards the end of 1916. During the day Beaucourt has been taken by 21st Division but the rest of the attack has been unable to make headway because of the marshy nature of the ground, so the Ancre retains its evil name with the army.

Despite this frustration around the Ancre good progress has been made during the day and there is the hope of more steady progress tomorrow.

Sources: X550/2/5; X550/5/3

Seventy First Day of the Third Battle of Ypres

Tuesday 9th October 1917

Hard on the heels of the major attack on 4th October today has seen another significant onslaught, this time by ten divisions. Furthest south 5th Division attacked using 15th Brigade, though not the 1st Bedfords, who were in reserve, fortunately for them as the attack seems to have been a complete failure, the two assaulting Battalions, 1st Battalion Norfolk Regiment and 16th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment making no progress whatsoever due to mud and withering fire from Polderhoek Château. Incidentally the 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, part of 37th Division, which took no part in the attack had, we understand, orders to advance if the enemy began to show signs of withdrawal, but this did not happen.

Next in the line, going north, is 21st Division, but this unit was not slated to make an attack. On their right flank is 7th Division, which did send its 21st Brigade “over the top” in order to straighten an inwards bulge by the enemy line at this point around the hamlet of Reutel. The hamlet was taken and the bulge satisfactorily dealt with.

1st Australian Division was next north but, again, this formation did not make an attack. On their left flank 2nd Australian Division attacked with its 5th and 6th Brigades. We understand that most battalions in this fine force have been reduced to less than the strength of a company - between 150 and 200 men when they should have around one thousand. 6th Brigade pushed forward from Broodseinde to cover the flank of 5th Brigade  This formation cleared Decoy Wood and the strong-point called Rhine was taken and they surged on to their final objective. Here their lack of numbers told more than their excellent fighting spirit and they were forced back to the first objective, where they dug in.

On the Australians’ left is 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division which used 197th and 198th Brigades in its attack. 198th Brigade reached its first objective but could go no further in the face of determined resistance whilst 197th Brigade managed more and reached its second line of objectives but, misinterpreting formation of a defensive flank by the troops on their left as a withdrawal , also withdrew back to their first objective. During the day patrols from the Division got all the way to the outskirts of Passchendaele so the eventual curtailing of this division’s advance, we guess, is particularly galling to high command.

49th (West Riding) Division also used two brigades in its attack, 146th and 148th. Again one of the brigades had better fortune than the other. 148th Brigade had to cross a stream called Revebeek. Reports suggest that this is now more of a shallow river, approaching fifty yards width of cold, muddy, waist-deep water. Heavy fire from well-defended positions has forced the attack to be abandoned after a day of trying to slog forward, we understand - exhausting and demoralising for the men concerned. 146th Brigade took Yetta House and a pillbox known, incongruously as Peter Pan as well as Kronprinz Farm but had to curtail the advance a few hundred yards short of their first objective.

48th (South Midland) Division used its 144th Brigade in the attack, with two battalions each from Gloucestershire and Worcestershire Regiments. Vacher Farm and Adler Farm were taken but Inch Farm and Oxford House resisted attack, confining gains to roughly the line of the first objective.

11th (Northern) Division also used a single Brigade, 33rd, for its attack. They began their attack in the eastern fringes of the village of Poelcapelle but, try as they might, could simply not get forward due to enemy fire.

4th Division used its 12th Brigade for this attack. It lies on the northern shoulder of the line and its attack, instead of going east or north east went almost due north-north-east. They did well on this day of disappointments, getting mid-way between their first and second objectives by the time their advance had to be shut down. We understand that both Millers Farm and Landing Farm have been taken.

29th Division’s attack , in between that of 29th Division and the Guards, was also north-eastwards and here great success was achieved. 86th and 88th Brigades cleared Olga House, Senegal Farm, Namur Crossing, Pascal Farm and Cairo House and the whole division ended up half way between their second and third objectives

The left-most division to attack today, again heading north-north-east, was the Guards Division, using its 1st and 2nd Brigades. They took Vee Bend, Egypt Farm and the Brickfield, Gruyierszale Farm and Ney Wood ending up with their left flank on the village of Veldhoek and their right on the brickfield at les Cinq Chemins having taken all objectives - a performance worthy of household troops and bringing them close to the southern reaches of Huthoulst Forest

Today’s attack was, it is fair to say, patchy with some great success, particularly in the northern sector, but also a complete lack of success in parts towards the south. The poor conditions were a major factor, swollen streams, clagging mud and cold. It truly feels like October now after quite a dry and balmy end to September. Some areas, such as around the approaches to Passchendaele are well and truly waterlogged. And, of course, the Germans continue to make use of their fortified positions long prepared; mud is of little handicap to defenders.

No one here knows when the next attack will be. Opinion is divided between those suggesting that high command may begin winding this battle down as the bad weather and dismal conditions draw on, others opine that it will speed-up due to time-pressure to achieve some sort of breakthrough before winter. Only time will tell.

Sources: X550/2/5; X550/7/1

Sixty Sixth Day of the Third Battle of Ypres

Thursday 4th October 1917

Today is the third day in a row it has been raining and another full-scale attack has been made on the enemy here at Ypres, by twelve divisions. The most southerly of these was 37th Division, which attacked with 63rd and 111th Brigades. 6th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment was lent to these brigades but was not called upon, though I am very sad to report that my friend, the laconic adjutant, Captain H J Cunningham has been killed by a shell. 63rd Brigade went forward and managed to take their first objective but the Germans are always very protective of the ground anywhere in the vicinity of the Menin Road and a series of desperate counter-attacks drove the brigade back to its starting positions. 111th Brigade had more success, capturing Tower Trench but being unable to take all their objectives.

The 5th Division attack was also made without the Bedfords, the 1st Battalion being in reserve. An advance to the grounds of Polderhoek Chȃteau has been made though that attack cannot get any further as the position is very strongly held. Elsewhere Cameron Copse has been taken and the advance has ended just short of Juniper Hill which, again is very strongly held. Despite this the advance has taken a reasonable amount of ground on the Polderhoek Spur which the enemy will be unhappy to lose(1).

21st Division is on the 5th Division’s left flank and on the eastern edge of the southern part of Polygon Wood. Their attack, with 62nd and 64th Brigades, has been slightly more successful. They have taken Joist Farm, Juniper Trench and Judge Trench and a number of enemy strong-points.

7th Division is next in the line going north. They used 20th and 91st Brigades in their attack. They seem to have been completely successful, taking all their objectives including Jetty Wood, Jubilee Croft, Jay Barn, Jay Croft and Jolting House.

The colonials of the two ANZAC Corps form the next four divisions. 1st Australian Division obtained most of their objectives and even managed to capture a battery of four 77mm field guns en-route! Romulus and Remus Woods have fallen and all objectives have been taken

2nd Australian Division had to go round Zonnebeke Lake in making their attack but managed to capture Zonnebeke itself. This division, too, not to be outdone, also captured a battery of four light artillery pieces. Going on they have also managed to capture the village of Broodeseinde, giving two in one attack. We understand they have not quite achieved their final objective but can be proud of what they have achieved.

3rd Australian Division took the strong-points called Seine and Hamburg. The New Zealand Division is the furthest north of the four ANZAC divisions, they have taken Dear House, Dochy Farm, Berlin Farm, Albatross Farm, Aviatik Farm and Otto Farm and the strong-points called Boetleer, Korek, Waterloo, Riverside, Calgary Grange, Winzig and Winchester. Another splendid success for the men from the islands of the long white cloud.

48th (South Midland) Division are the next in line and attacked with one brigade. They have taken Vale Farm and Tweed House but were unable to take all their objectives, ending some way short of their final objective.

11th Division used two brigades, 33rd and 34th, in their attack. The good news is that they have taken the village of Poelcapelle as well as strong-points such as Gloster Farm, Ferdan House and Malta House.

4th Division used 10th and 11th Brigades in its attack and took Kangaroo Trench without difficulty. 11th Brigade went on to take all their objectives, a truly splendid effort worthy of the old regular army. 10th Brigade has been less fortunate, taking 19 Metre Hill but being unable to make further progress. We understand they then were hit by an enemy counter-attack but managed to fight it off.

29th Division formed the northernmost attack of today. 86th and 87th Brigades’ task was to make a defensive flank to protect the units further south from interference. A number of strong-points have been taken including Chinese House and ‘t Goed ter Vesten Farm. When the enemy counter-attacked and drove the 4th Division back it was flanking fire from 29th Division which routed the Germans and enabled 4th Division to regain the ground it had lost.

So today has seen more steady progress. It is true that not all objectives have been reached but some divisions have had great success and none have encountered outright failure. Such attacks, chipping away at the enemy bit by bit must surely begin to make an impact on him. The army is now within sight of the ridge on which stands the village of Passchendaele.

Sources: X550/2/5; X550/7/1

(1) They put in no less than eight counter-attacks regaining some of the ground.

Sixty Third Day of the Third Battle of Ypres

Monday 1st October 1917

23rd Division, just north of the Menin Road, was again attacked today, this time the enemy being supported by the strafing of machine-guns from low-flying aircraft. 69th Brigade received the attack and the enemy managed an advance of about 150 yards before being stopped. Three other attacks were made during the day but these were each seen-off by the defenders.

Two more divisions came under attack through the day. 7th Division is in the sector including the northern parts of Polygon Wood, which it took over from 4th Australian Division. Two attacks were made on them during the day, but without success for the attackers. 21st Division are on 7th Division’s right flank on the eastern fringes of Polygon Wood. The enemy seemed interested in retaking Glencorse Wood, now well behind the lines, penetrating as far as Black Watch Corner as the Leicestershire Regiment was driven back at one point, but we understand that the line has been retaken and stabilised.

Elsewhere the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, are back in the front line near Hollebeke. Their dispositions are as shown on the map above. 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment are near Lens and had an unusual experience today. At around three o’clock this evening, three Germans were captured. These were not, as one might expect, men from the trenches opposite but three prisoners-of-war who had escaped from a cage at Dieppe and had made it all the way back nearly to No Man’s Land.

Sources: X550/3/wd; X550/9/1

The Sad Story of the 7th Battalion at Cherisy

The 7th Bedfords' attack at Cherisy

Friday 4th May 1917

After the failure of the attack by 18th Division yesterday at Chérisy your correspondent has been eager to speak with someone from 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, which was one of the assaulting battalions, another being 12th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment from their brigade. This morning the adjutant was able to speak with me at some length. It seems that the attack was due to begin at 3.45 a.m. but it was not light enough to begin until 4.15. The British barrage commenced badly, being irregular and so gave the troops very little cover as they advanced down a gentle slope towards a wood just outside Fontaine-lès-Croisilles. The Battalion’s job was to seize the front line between this village and the village of Chérisy.

The left their trenches before zero and, according to the adjutant they formed up splendidly. The advance started at zero, they soon slightly lost direction. This was because  the men being extended at about 12 paces between them and could scarcely see each other. The battalion on the left, Leicesters of 21st Division, also lost direction and crowded to the right, thus confusing the Bedfords’ attack and causing a further loss of direction, pushing them further to the right.

Four tanks were to be used to attack Fontaine village. One of these was unable to start and another went but a short distance. Worse, a third tank went down the line of a trench called Wood Trench and  then turned and came right through the Bedfords’ advancing lines. This added to the confusion and some groups retired to their starting point someone having been heard to shout: “Retire”. These men were reformed at once by their officers and again advanced, but the covering barrage, such as it was, had gone on. Thus the Battalion was held up at Fontaine Trench, which was strongly defended and the wire was thick and undamaged. They came under heavy machine-gun fire from Vis-en-Artois, Chérisy, Fontaine Trench and Fontaine Wood.

Small detachments pushed forward to an angle formed by Fontaine Trench and Wood Trench but could get no further.  At this time the majority of the 55th Brigade (commanded incidentally by the Bedfords’ old commanding officer Colonel, now Brigadier George Price) had reached their first objective on the left of the Bedfords.

The position of the Battalion about 10 a.m. was in front of Fontaine Trench with their right flank thrown back facing Wood Trench. At this time the Leicesters on the right had not made good Wood Trench except a small portion at the Western end. Some groups of the 55th Brigade reached a portion of their second objective.

About 11.30 the 14th (Light) Division further to the left commenced retiring, followed by the 55th Brigade, 12th Middlesex and some groups of the Bedfords, but about a company still remained in shell-holes in front of Fontaine and Wood Trenches when at midday the troops on their left had all got back to the starting Trenches.

At 7.15 pm a new Barrage started and two companies of 6th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment attacked on the Bedfords’ frontage in which elements of the Bedfords joined and which was covered by rapid fire from the troops in shell holes. This attack, however, was not successful as the enemy put up an intense barrage and the wire in front could not be forced. The whole lot then fell back to their original front line and held that during the night, being relieved early in the morning by the Northamptons taking over.

The frustration and, indeed, anger in the adjutant’s voice was palpable as he was telling me this. The 7th Bedfords have been used to success and it is galling for them to admit failure. It is notable that in addition to the darkness, the losing of the true line of attack, the poor barrage, the strength of the German defences and the uncut wire the adjutant blamed lack of success on lack of knowledge of the ground. The Battalion had only arrived on Wednesday, two days ago and had not, of course, been able to practise an attack over similar ground. He compared this with the full year they were on the Somme near Carnoy before they made their glorious attack on 1st July last year and the fact that they had had weeks of practising attacking over very similar ground.

There has been no action on the main Arras battlefield today, but fighting continues on the southern edge around the village of Bullecourt. It will be remembered that 62nd (2nd West Riding) Division’s attack yesterday was unsuccessful whilst the 2nd Australian Division had mixed fortune, some failure, some success with a part of the Hindenburg Line being taken. Today  the men of 1st Brigade of 1st Australian Division have been drawn  into the fight, under command of 2nd Division.

The enemy made strong attacks on the captured ground early this morning, but were beaten off. By mid-afternoon today we were hearing that the Australians had not only held their gains of yesterday, but expanded them so that about one thousand yards of the German front line was not in their possession. Further enemy counter-attacks are expected.

The British 7th Division attacked Bullecourt again today, trying to succeed where 62nd Division had failed. Reports at this point are contradictory, with some saying Bullecourt has fallen, some saying that it still holds out. We hope to learn of success over night.

Source: X550/8/1

Fourth Day of the Battle of Arras

Thursday 12th April 1917

Today the Canadians now down off Vimy Ridge and advancing east, have attacked an annoying enemy position called the Pimple, the only objective not to fall to them on 10th April. All day the battle raged in showers of snow but we have just heard that the position finally fell to the men from the prairies about an hour ago.

Here around the city of Arras the attack begun on 9th continues. Those of us “old hands” who have been reporting on this war from the front line since the beginning of operations on the Somme last July have an uneasy feeling that we have seen this situation before. Often grand set-piece attacks achieve a considerable amount on the first day but then, as our armies try to exploit the initial successes, defences harden, conditions become more difficult and opportunities missed in the first few hours come back to haunt our men over succeeding days. So the scale of successes of 9th April have diminished since then and in some areas, notably the south of the area of operations covered by VII Corps and the Australians, hardly any success has been achieved. Often it is at this point that the battle fragments into a series of strictly local attacks made by groups of men as small as a company or even a platoon rather than a combined, co-ordinated effort by the whole force; pin pricks by tens of men rather than a grand sweep by tens of thousands.

Today VII Corps was given the task of finally making a significant advance. Things began well because 21st Division found that the Hindenburg Line in front of it had been abandoned. In fact this advance meant that 21st Division and 56th (London) Division “joined hands” and 30th Division which had been between them was no longer required and will be replaced by 33rd Division.

Major E S M Poyntz [X550/1/81]

Major Poyntz told me by telephone this evening that 2nd Bedfords are withdrawng to Blaireville. During the last few days the battalion has lost six officers wounded as well as 89 other ranks, including 68 wounded. So ends a very unsatisfactory battle for 30th Division.

Meanwhile 56th Division were able to occupy the villages of Wancourt and Héninel, abandoned by the enemy. Thus VII Corps has reaped the rewards of the good work by VI Corps in the last few days as the Germans in the south fall back to keep the line straight, their compatriots to the north having been driven back by VI Corps.

VI Corps has made no attack today. XVII Corps was given the order to take the village of Roeux and its adjacent chemical works. In order to have time to make a detailed reconnaissance of enemy positions no attack was made today until two hours ago. At 5 pm 9th (Scottish) Division went into the attack. We wait to see what becomes of it.

6th Bedfords, 37th Division, went out of the line today, marching towards Tilloy. My colleague Ian McLeod, the man on the spot, tells me they have suffered 190 casualties, of whom 34 have been killed and 12 are missing in the last four days' fighting at Monchy-le-Preux.

Source: X550/3/WD; information from Ian McLeod

Day Eighty Eight on the Somme

Tuesday 26th September 1916: From our Correspondent in the Field

Today the attacks of yesterday have continued, albeit at a more local level. But the principal action today has taken place on the great bastion of German defenses on the Somme, Thiepval Ridge. Without this place being captured any meaningful advance towards Bapaume is impossible, as it dominates the whole battlefield. We have heard from the adjutant of the 7th Bedfords, Captain Bridcutt, that they are likely to have a hand in this struggle, but more of that later.

Another major advance took place today on the Somme, a fine, clear day with temperatures in the low seventies. 56th (London) Division took the northern end of Bouleaux Wood and met up with the French at Combles which they then took, adding another village to the trophy list for this long battle. On their left 21st Division took the village of Gueudecourt along with the dismounted 19th Lancers from 1st Indian Cavalry Division. 

The capture of Gueudecourt is another very important event but your correspondent hopes that readers will forgive him if he now concentrates on events around Thiepval. The attacking forces here, from east to west were: the Canadians between Courcelette and Mouquet Farm, 11th Division around Mouquet Farm and 18th (Eastern) Division at Thiepval itself.

The Canadians attacked just after midday and advanced their line by about 1,000 yards north. This evening they are dug-in, expecting a counter–attack. They are just short of a main German defensive position called they have dubbed Regina Trench after the principal city in Saskatchewan.

11th Division have finally completed the capture of Mouquet Farm, begun by the Australians on 14th August, so to that division belongs the glory of achieving something the Antipodeans could not quite manage. Most of the ruins above ground had been taken but it was the cellars and dug-outs beneath that restricted capture and here a subterranean battle has been fought through the day with the 6th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment (Pioneers) completing the capture and taking over fifty prisoners into the bargain. The rest of the division was less successful as they ran into a very strongly fortified German position called Zollern Redoubt north of Mouquet Farm. The division has suffered very large numbers of casualties owing to this redoubt.

There are three of these redoubts that ring Thiepval from the east (Zollern) to the north. That to the north of Thiepval is called Schwaben Redoubt and that between Schwaben and Zollern is named Stauffen, or Stuff, Redoubt.

The village of Thiepval has held out against attacks ever since 1st July and today it has been attacked again. 18th Division, of course, were one of only two divisions to achieve all their objectives on the opening day of this battle so to them has fallen that enormous task of finally taking Thiepval. 53rd Brigade made an attack from the south and manage to advance as far as Zollern Trench which runs eastwards from Thiepval and this trench they took.

7th Bedfords formed the reserve for the attack by 54th Brigade. This attack was conducted on a very narrow front- just 300 yards, the right flank resting on the road from Thiepval to Authuille, and involved going up the slope south-west of the village. The attack was held up by machine gun fire from the ruins of the château which lay directly in the men’s path, but then a “tank” arrived and managed to keep the machine-gunners heads down long enough for the position to be taken. This evening a large part of the village is in the brigade’s hands with the northern part still holding out. Captain Bridcutt mentioned to me a few minutes ago that this looks as if it will be the Bedfords’ task for tomorrow – the final capture of the village of Thiepval.

Source: X550/8/1

Day Eighty Seven on the Somme

Monday 25th September 1916: From our Correspondent in the Field

Today has seen another large attack across a broad front extending in an arc from Martinpuich through Eaucourt-l’Abbaye, Gueudecourt, Lesboeufs and Morval to Combles in the south. Our own 1st and 8th Battalions have been caught up in these attacks.

Moving from left to right: 50th (Northumbrian) Division and 1st Division have advanced a small way north towards the hamlet of Eaucourt-l’Abbaye. The New Zealanders formed the defensive left flank for this whole operation. They moved forward against unexpectedly weak opposition and now face north-west towards Eaucourt-l’Abbaye. 55th (West Lancashire) Division took a short stretch of a main German defensive line called Gird Trench just to the north of its original position

21st Division attacked towards the village of Gueudecourt. We had heard rumours that Gueudecourt had fallen, but it has become clear this evening that it has not. The attack could get no further than Gird Trench, part of which was taken but most of which remains in German hands.

The Guards Division attacked an area south of Gueudecourt as far as a road through the middle of Lesboeufs. The Guards met with little in the way of opposition, stormed through the ruins and have now occupied ground just to the east.

6th Division attacked towards Lesboeufs. The adjutant of 8th Bedfords tells me that they were in reserve for the 16th Infantry Brigade attack on the German lines between Lesboeufs and Morval to the south: “The attack commenced at 12.35 pm and the Battalion moved up to the original front line when the second objective had been taken about 2.35. Casualties from the enemy barrage were very slight. The attack proved successful and many prisoners were taken. Tonight the Battalion will furnish carrying parties to the front line battalions with ammunition and water”.

The division attacked an area north of Morval as far as the road through the centre of Lesboeufs. The division succeeded splendidly in taking all its objectives and is now dug-in east of Lesboeufs with the Guards on its right and 5th Division on its left.

The aforementioned 5th Division includes, of course, 1st Bedfords. They were in their assembly trenches by 9.30 last night. The adjutant takes up the story: "At 1.35 pm the Battalion advanced in four waves at 150 yards distance one from another, passing over the trench taken by the 1st Norfolks. The first line reached their objective, the sunken road, by 1.40. Lewis guns were immediately placed in position on the top of the bank and several drums fired at the retiring enemy. The Battalion dug-in along the line of the road and also on the top of the bank. Touch was gained with the 16th Brigade at 1.50 and with the 95th Brigade about 2 pm”.

So far so good, but there have, it seems, been familiar problems: “Considerable casualties were sustained from our own field guns, both during the advance and while holding the sunken road”. This issue, it will be remembered, hampered the 8th Battalion attack on 15th. However, Morval, along with Lesboeufs, has fallen today. 1st Cheshires succeeded in occupying it by 3 pm. The farthest point reached has been the old windmill east of the village.

The right flank of the British armies in France is currently held by 56th (London) Division. This formation attacked Combles in co-operation wih French 2nd Division around midnight. They advanced round the north end of Bouleaux Wood, which still contains German defenders, and the two nations’ troops succeeded in taking Combles and are now dug-in well to the east of it, the British facing east and the French facing north.

So today, whilst not uniformly successful, has seen another series of hammer blows to the German lines. The capture of three villages is a huge success and in places the German defenses have been much weaker than normal. One wonders if there is some sort of crisis in the German army on the Somme which our forces may be able to exploit in the days ahead(1)

Sources: X550/2/5; X550/9/1

(1) The Germans, worried about a breakthrough on the Somme, had just begun a fortified line some miles behind their own front line. This was the Siegfriedstellung, known the British as the Hindenburg Line. During the Spring of 1917 the Germans withdrew