A Spirited Counter-Attack

The situation this evening - the original front line is shown in black and the enemy gains in red

Monday 25th March 1918

Readers will recall that last evening my conversation with Captain Colley of 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, was cut short by enemy action. It was with some relief this evening that I learned that it was no more than an attack on the nearby French at Guivry, driving them back, which exposed the Bedfords' left flank. At three o'clock this morning the battalion was given orders to retire to Crepigny, which was successfully carried out, the enemy being about two miles in the rear of the left flank.

At 10 a.m. they fell back again to Mont du Grandrû to safeguard the left flank. At noon the Bedfords were heavily shelled by French artillery and machine guns and forced to retire to the high ground west of Grandrû. As the adjutant remarked, the French evidently find it hard to distinguish khaki from field grey.

At three o'clock this afternoon the battalion received orders to march to Varesnes to take up a position south of the River Oise. These orders were countermanded while en-route and new orders received to counter-attack the village of Babouef. The adjutant simply stated that this counter-attack was successful and village retaken, several prisoners being taken and many enemy killed.

As may be imagined, your correspondent was not going to let it go at this. Pressed for more details the adjutant revealed that as the retirement to Varesnes began a gap of over a miles was opened up between the French 1st Dismounted Cavalry Division on the high ground north of Béhéricourt and 53rd Brigade on the railway line south of Baboeuf. This gap was occupied by some French artillery firing towards Babouef, with no infantry in front to protect them. So Brigadier-General Sadleir-Jackson commanding 54th Brigade, decided to attack and take the village to protect these valuable guns.

The attack went in a five o'clock this evening. The attackers were 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, on the left immediately south of the wood east of Béhéricourt and the 11th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers with their right flank on the railway line from Noyon to Chauny. Both battalions were very tired after four days' continual movement and action and the strain of the retreat and both were about half-strength. These are not ideal conditions for an attack. Nevertheless, the adjutant sensed that above all his men wanted to get back at the enemy for the misery they have caused and that their anger and frustration would trump their weariness. So it proved. Though defended by machine guns the village was quickly taken, and half an hour ago the place was being consolidated. Ten machine guns were captured and 230 of the enemy killed or taken prisoner. The Royal Fusiliers were even weaker than the Bedfords in numbers, but they managed to take the ground south of the village with help from the 6th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment.

One oddity mentioned by the adjutant was a young cow. This poor creature was in the main street of Baboeuf, nevertheless it advanced with the Bedfords, though always in front of them and ended the battle quite unscathed.What a gallant little action! If these last few days had ever given rise to doubt none can doubt now the fighting spirit of Tommy Atkins.

On the old Somme battlefield, 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment (63rd (Royal Naval) Division and 483rd Field Company, Royal Engineers (2nd Division) have both been in action. 4th Bedfords took a stand at the shattered remnants of that old killing ground, High Wood. Their commanding officer briefly related that they fought to the last but, all their ammunition gone, they were obliged to withdraw to another place familiar from 1916, Thiepval, on its commanding ridge, which fell to the 7th Bedfords on 27th September 1916.

The Royal Engineers were at Auchonvillers, behind the British lines in July 1916, by noon. The sappers assisted in the defence of Auchonvillers, holding the left portion of the village, 5th Field Company holding the right, with 1st Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment holding the preimeter in old trenches. In the event no attack was made and the engineers are to retire to Bertrancourt tonight.

2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment spent most of the day at Buverchy watching the enemy massing for an attack. Our guns did not let this go unhampered, the commanding officer told me. But the enemy gunners were also busy, shelling the two bridges over the canal and the village of Moyencourt. About an hour ago they broke through the French, on the Bedfords' right forcing the Bedfords to retire through Moyencourt. What will happen next is very uncertain and your correspondent wishes the men the best of luck.

Sources: X550/3/wd; X550/5/3; X550/8/1; WW1/WD3

Day Seventy Seven on The Somme

A British Mark I Male tank on the Somme - by Ernest Brooks - Imperial War Museum

15th September 1916: From our Correspondent in the Field

Today has been one of those spasms which seem to affect life here at the front. It has been a day of determined attacks across a broad front which I will outline below. Today’s attacks, though, have been very different. In the last few days we had heard rumours of a secret weapon. Well, this weapon is secret no longer, the Germans now know all about it and, one imagines, many wish they were still in ignorance of it.

This weapon is, simply, a huge armoured vehicle. It is over thirty feet long and must weigh in excess of twenty five tons, or so educated guesses have it. It is a rhomboid shape, in other words, a lopsided rectangle and has two boxes (called sponsons I am told) on either side of its body. These carry its armament. On some vehicles it has a naval 6 pounder gun in either “sponson” and in other two machine guns. In an element of whimsy usually lacking in the stern affairs of the military, those with machine guns are known as “females” and those with 6 pounders are “males”. Presumably these metal monsters have, to some eyes, a resemblance to living leviathans. We understand the job of the “males” is to destroy buildings and strongpoints whilst the “females” mow down German infantry and machine gunners.

These leviathans, I have heard them called “land-ships”, are propelled by tracks running round the body. One may see tracks of this type on Holt tractors and they are extremely useful in crawling through mud and over brokes ground where wheeled-vehicles or cavalry could not venture. This, together with their length and weight means they can crush barbed wire for infantry to follow them and cross trenches with ease. The name most commonly in use for them seems to be the strange designation of “tank”. I am told that when they were being crated up and sent over to France, the crates were labelled as water tanks to prevent German spies from cottoning on.

Be that as it may, several dozen of these “tanks” have been employed in today’s attacks. It seems they are prone to breaking down (a facet of their design many owners of automobiles will readily understand), are difficult to steer and can go in the wrong direction because the drivers have only a tiny gap in the armour plate to look through. When they lurch into the enemy, however, they seem to sow panic and despondency wherever they go. At last a method may be at hand which may break the stalemate of this war and finally lead to a break-through.

The left flank of the attack was the action begun last night by 11th Division on Thiepval Ridge which, we understand, succeed in capturing a German stronghold known as the Wonderwork (bottom left in the map above) and a portion of a trench called Hohenzollern Trench.

Another first for today’s attack, besides the “tanks” was the introduction of the Canadian Corps into the battle. The Canadians were given the task of seizing the village of Courcelette. This, with the help of “tanks”, they took in very determined fashion. They seized the ground to the south and had to fight off German counter-attacks from the village itself before seizing that too in the last half hour or so. There will undoubtedly be counter-attacks but if the Canadians can hold the village they have taken they will have begun their campaign in a highly creditable manner.

15th (Scottish) Division attacked the village of Martinpuich. They have seized the village and are now dug-in just to the nort, facing the village of Courcelette.

50th (Northumbrian) Division captured parts of the Starfish Line which runs east from Martinpuich. Unfortunately this line could not be held and the Northumbrians were forced to retire by German artillery.

47th (1st/2nd) London Division had the difficult task of attacking High Wood today, the place which has defied capture for so long. And they achieved their task handsomely! Several hundred prisoners were taken in High Wood and around lunchtime the place was in British hands at last. The troops then moved on. Tonight they are well to the north, dug-in east of Martinpuich and just south of the strongly held Starfish Line which, in this sector, resisted attempts to capture it.

The New Zealand Division attacked with great élan from positions between High Wood and Longueval. They captured their objectives and now occupy ground west and north-west of the village of Flers. 41st Division was to attack the village of Flers itself from the south, beginning from positions north of Delville Wood. This attack included ten “tanks”, the most allotted to any attack today. The village, we understand, has fallen, materially assisted by the “tanks”. 14th Division advanced some way north of Delville Wood.

The Guards Division was given the task of attacking north-west from the north of Ginchy towards Lesboeufs. They were able to make some ground and took a number of prisoners but were unable to take their third objective which lay just south-west of Lesboeufs.

6th Division were given the task of taking the Quadrilateral. In this attack the 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment was to the fore. At 4.30 this morning the Battalion was in position and went into the attack at 6.20, the attackers being A, C and D Companies whilst B Company bombed down a trench parallel to the attack to prevent flanking fire. It is a matter of extreme regret that the barrage by our guns intended to help the Battalion forward fell so short that it landed on top of them in shell holes south-west of the objective, from which they were preparing to attack. This error on the part of the barrage commander(1) resulted in many of our men being killed. Nevertheless, the survivors gamely went forward, supported by 1st Battalion, The Buffs and later reinforced by 2nd Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment. The Quadrilateral is a well-defended strongpoint, however, and proved impossible to take. The artillery had, once again, failed in its task as all the barbed wire in front of the strongpoint was uncut. “Tanks” were allotted to this attack but failed to turn up. Thus a catalogue of errors over which the Battalion had no influence led to the failure of their attack and the loss, it is feared, of a great number of lives. We understand that thirteen officers have become casualties, six of them dead. We do not yet know the death toll amongst the other ranks.

We understand that one of the “tanks” allotted to the parts of the Division attacking elsewhere fired on our own troops as it went forward. The failure of the 8th Bedfords was part of a greater failure by the division, which failed to get any where near its overall objective, the village of Morval.

On the far right of the attack, near the village of Combles, 56th (London) Division made some progress towards that village and towards Morval but were stopped by uncut barbed wire south of Middle Copse.

Today has seen three villages – Flers, Courcelette and Martinpuich taken by an attack on a wide front. This has been the biggest co-ordinated attack since 1st July and has achieved great things. With the help of the “tanks” the army is hoping for more great things in the days to come.

Source: X550/9/1

(1) XIV Corps Commander, Royal Artillery was Brigadier-General Alexander Ernest Wardrop

Day Seventy One on the Somme

Saturday 9th September 1916: From our Correspondent in the Field

After seizing a portion of High Wood yesterday 1st Division was today given the unenviable task of taking the rest of it. Sadly the resistance put up by the enemy was stronger than yesterday and all attacks failed. 

However, on the rest of the battlefield the day has been one of considerable success. A few days ago your correspondent was wondering whether the village of Ginchy would take as long to capture as its neighbour to the south-west, Guillemont. It appears that this will not be the case. 16th (Irish) Division has today succeeded in capturing the place. However, it has yet to be held for any period of time and everyone is aware of the German propensity for determined counter-attacks.

56th (London) Division has pushed north from Leuze Wood and succeeded in capturing German positions along the sunken road through Bouleaux Wood to Combles and the road from Guillemont to Morval. 

They have even pushed patrols towards the village of Morval itself. The position known as the Quadrilateral, however, in a hollow, near the eastern end of the ravine east of Guillemont and north of Bouleaux Wood holds out against them.

Today 1st Bedfords moved back to Morlancourt, a village behind the lines south of Albert and not far from the north bank of the River Somme. They are undoubtedly on their way to leaving the area for recuperation and reorganisation. I am sure they will hope never to return as the job will be done in the next little while(1).

To the west, the Canadians made an attack this afternoon towards the village of Martinpuich. They succeeded in advancing about a quarter of a mile and have held their gains against considerable counterattacks.

Source: X550/2/5

(1) Noon on this day marked the half way point in the 141 day battle.

Day Seventy on the Somme

Friday 8th September 1916: From our Correspondent in the Field

Following theire dogged fighting at Falfemont Farm the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, has been receiving due praise. Their brigadier wrote to each of the four battalions under his command (1):

“The Brigadier General Commanding feels he cannot too warmly express his admiration of the fine soldierly qualities again displayed by all ranks during the recent operations”.

“The taking of Falfemont Farm, a most important and strongly defended post, was a magnificent performance and is one of the greatest successes accomplished during the war”.

“This was made possible entirely by the good handling of their Battalions by Commanding Officers and the devoted conduct of all ranks”.

“Heavy working parties were required when the Brigade was not in the Line and these did excellent work”.

“The Brigadier-General thanks all ranks for their support and co-operation and trusts the Brigade will shortly enjoy a well earned rest”

Colonel Allason has also addressed his men, and your correspondent was privileged to watch his stirring address: “I have come here this morning to read to you a message that we have received from the Commander-in-Chief”(2).

“He says, with reference to the late operations, "The rapid advance on Leuze Wood, following on the capturing of Falfemont Farm, showed great judgement and determination, and has been of considerable assistance to the French Army on our right””.

““I very warmly congratulate you and the Commanders and Staffs and the Troops under you on the results you have already achieved and on the energy and determination with which they were followed up””.

“Well, now, you’re the people who took Falfemont Farm, and I am very glad to be able to tell you that not only the Commander-in-Chief, but the Army Commander and the Corps Commander all realise what a great and glorious fight it was”.

“It makes it all the better that you did it after there had been a failure; that always makes it more difficult”.

“Nothing in the world could have been finer than the show you fellows put up by that Farm and the line up to Wedge Wood on the left of it. It was magnificent”.

“I want to thank you all for what you have done and tell you that everybody thoroughly understands what a good show it was”.

There have been some other good shows today. 1st Division has taken the western half of the vile remains of High Wood and 55th Division defeated a German attack in the early hours of the morning.

Source: X550/2/5

(1)   1st Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, 1st Battalion, Cheshire Regiment, 16th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment .

(2)   General Sir Douglas Haig

Day Sixty Six on the Somme

Monday 4th September 1916: From our Correspondent in the Field

Readers will recall that last night’s despatch was sent as the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, was attacking Falfemont Farm. Their area of attack lay between this farm and Wedge Wood (which lies to the north-west)with 1st Battalion, Cheshire Regiment on their right flank. The attack actually got under way, the adjutant tells me, at 6.15 pm last evening and their objective lay across one thousand yards of open ground. Unfortunately the artillery barrage, behind which they were supposed to advance, had gone a long way forward by the time they started. 

In fact the attack veered a little to the left and they occupied a position between Wedge Wood, which had been taken, and a sunken lane running along its western edge, thus, by mistake, occupying part of the objective of the neighbouring 95th Brigade. By extending the line the Bedfords linked up with the Cheshires west of Falfemont Farm, each battalion holding a very long frontage of 1,200 yards each. Strong patrols were then pushed forward after dark and one managed to entrench about thirty yards from the enemy front line “in a very creditable manner” as the adjutant remarked to me. Two other patrols captured four prisoners between them. No patrols suffered any casualties.

Sadly this was not true of the bulk of the Battalion. All morning its positions were shelled by our own artillery, despite requests to desist. As the adjutant told me, with some anger “Finally two of the forward trenches had to be evacuated as the men were all being buried. In doing so the enemy opened with machine guns on them and there were several casualties. Quite apart from its morale effect some thirty men were will or wounded by our own guns”.

Misfortune also befell the enemy as the battalion continued its attack of yesterday: “In one instance a bomb set fire to a German bomb store. A whole company was sheltering in a dug-out with three entrances, according to the statements of two survivors: not many escaped”. The Bedfords captured 3 officers, 128 other ranks and 4 machine guns this morning and, in all reckon to have captured around 160. The final line reached and consolidated stretches from the northern corner of Falfemont Farm for 300 yards north-west across a plateau towards Wedge Wood. Thus the Bedfords succeeded in taking north corner of the farm and the west corner was also taken. Unfortunately other attacks failed to capture the bulk of the farm itself. Nevertheless, this is a significant achievement by the battalion, as the Germans only cede ground very unwillingly, as the intense fighting around Mouquet Farm in the last few weeks shows. The Australians have still failed to take it. So, despite severe casualties, satisfaction is felt by the survivors.

Elsewhere 20th (Light) Division occupied most of Leuze Wood and 7th Division attacked Ginchy without success

Source: X550/2/5

Day Sixty Five on the Somme

Sunday 3rd September 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

Today has been one of great activity here on the Somme with attacks across a front of five miles or more. There have been separate attacks in the Ancre Valley and on the Thiepval Ridge, at Mouquet Farm, at High Wood, at Guillemont and at Ginchy. We will begin this left to right progress, so to speak, in the Ancre Valley.

The 49th Division made an attack which began at the road from Hamel to Thiepval (known as Mill Road and Thiepval Road) and headed north towards Saint-Pierre-Divion. However, weather has been poor today, with drizzle reducing visibility and the attackers were caught by machine gun fire from the Schwaben Redoubt on their right flank. Some men did penetrate the enemy front line but were forced to evacuate it for lack of ammunition and reinforcements and by mid-morning it became clear that the attack had failed with no ground gained. This attack has made it clear that the whole Thiepval Ridge will need to be cleared of the enemy if any progress is to be made in the Ancre Valley.

To the south-east of the village of Thiepval the Australians have again attacked the remains of Mouquet Farm. They succeeded in capturing most of the rubble and the nearby trenches but have been driven out again by the Germans. All this fighting, both on the surface, in trenches and underground in bunkers has been of the most bestial hand-to-hand variety. The Germans are well aware that if Mouquet Farm falls the back door to Thiepval will be open.

The fight still goes on amongst the splinters of High Wood. 1st Brigade of 1st Division attacked here, again using flame-throwers and Livens Projectors, despite these weapons’ failure on 18th August. To assist the attack a mine containing 3,000 lb of high explosive was detonated under the eastern corner of the wood less than a minute before the troops moved into the attack, giving the Germans no time to recover. Unfortunately the Livens Projectors caused more harm to our men than to the Germans when a stray trench mortar shell exploded the oil drums they were supposed to use against the enemy prematurely. Thus the whole attack failed. This evening, about an hour ago fresh attacks have pierced the remains of the wood.

5th Division was given the task of finally taking the fortress village of Guillemont. This was carried out in combination with the French 127th Regiment. Unfortunately the French were pinned down in Combles Ravine, leaving our men to attack alone. 13th Brigade attacked Falfemont Farm whilst 95th Brigade attacked the spur of ground between Falfemont Farm and Guillemont. The attacks began just before nine o’clock this morning and succeeded in capturing the German front line. 

The second line, from Wedge Wood to the south-eastern tip of the village, fell just before one o’clock. A 13th Brigade attack on Wedge Wood was stopped short of its objective.

The 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, has been caught up in the fighting. Just before two o’clock this afternoon the battalion moved forward from Silesian Trenches just north of Maricourt. They reached the vicinity of Maltz Horn Farm about half an hour later and at three o’clock was ordered to move to trenches south of Angle Wood. They advanced in company with 16th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment into Angle Wood under heavy shelling which caused ten casualties. An hour ago, about six o’clock they began their attack on Falfemont Farm, as yet I have heard nothing of their progress.

20th (Light) Division attacked Guillemont from trenches to the west and south-west of the village. These were successful and the village was finally taken. This has led to German counter-attacks this afternoon and this evening but, as far as I can determine, British troops still hold the village, or what remains of it. 

7th Division attacked the village of Ginchy, north-east of Guillemont. Unfortunately, Delville Wood, with its German defenders, has a line of sight over the ground over which the division attacked, being able to fire on the left flank of the attack from the north. Men from 7th and 24th Divisions, thus, were given the task of taking Delville Wood and the trenches leading east from it, but did not manage to achieve their task. They succeeded in taking the eastern edge of the wood but plenty of Germans remained in adjacent trenches to fire at the attack on Ginchy.

7th Division attacked Ginchy from the west, from around Waterlot Farm (shown as "Sugar Refinery" on the map above), thus by-passing Guillemont which lies to the south. Their objective is the site of a telegraph tower, on a prominence east of the village. They were duly struck in their left by fire from the Germans in trenches east of Delville Wood, particularly from a trench called Ale Alley (all the trenches in this sector have been given names relating to beer by our men). I understand that the attack got into Ginchy but, due to the drizzle and murky conditions, could not be seen by headquarters. The Germans then counterattacked and drove the men of 7th Division out of Ginchy again. About 5.30 this evening another attack was launched but it seems to have come for nothing. It took over a month to finally capture Guillemont, everyone hopes, most profoundly, that it will not take another month to capture its sister village of Ginchy.

Source: X550/2/5

Day Fifty Nine on the Somme

Monday 28th August 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

Today 1st Division has made a minor attack east of High Wood which has succeeded in gaining a small amount of ground. This evening an attack has begun on trenches east of Delville Wood by “the incomparable” 7th Division.  I can hear the noise as I write these few lines.

Day Fifty Eight on the Somme

Sunday 27th August 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

Last night the final part of Edge Trench, which runs along the eastern face of Delville Wood, was seized in a surprise attack by 14th (Light) Division, taking about sixty Germans prisoner. Thus to the 14th (Light) Division fell the honour of finally capturing the last few blasted trees of Devil’s Wood, which has withstood assaults since 14th July and has seen off 5th Division, 9th (Scottish) with its indomitable South African Brigade, and 17th (Northern) Divisions.

Fighting goes on around High Wood. Another Scottish division – 15th has been fighting off German attacks west of the wood.

This afternoon, the adjutant of 1st Bedfords contacted me and told me that senior officers from the Battalion have been inspecting trenches south of Guillemont. So it seems as if 5th Division will be dragged into the fight for this ruined place, so close to the scene of its last actions on the Somme at Longueval. Meanwhile 2nd Bedfords have taken over front line trenches at Givenchy-lès-la-Bassée near Béthune.

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

Day Fifty Five on the Somme

Thursday 24th August 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

Today 100th Brigade of 33rd Division made an unsuccessful attack between High Wood and Delville Wood. 

More urgently the Germans attacked 20th (Light) Division’s positions south of the railway and west of Guillemont last night. Our lines were full of engineers and parties of men working on consolidation, nevertheless, the attack was beaten-off. The 20th Division had been due to make an attack on Guillemont this morning but last night’s German effort has meant that this has had to be postponed.

The 14th (Light) Division again tried to push the Germans out of Delville Wood and managed to advance their front line. Nevertheless the enemy retains a foot-hold on the northern and north-eastern fringes on the wood.

Just over an hour ago we heard that the French had launched an attack all the way along the line from the River Somme to the boundary with the British army near Hardecourt-au-Bois. 

Day Fifty Two on the Somme

Monday 21st August 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

Attacks have been made today at those twin sores Delville Wood and Guillemont. An attack by 41st Brigade (of 14th Division) on German defenses inside Devil’s Wood was a failure which inflicted over two hundred casualties on the light infantrymen.

33rd Division made an attack around midnight from the road from Longueval to Flers to a trench called Wood Lane which follows the track from the eastern tip of High Wood south-east towards Longueval and which ends in a T junction short of the northern end of the village. Regrettably one battalion was informed of the planned attack to late so only one battalion made the assault and it was beaten off by the defenders. On a brighter note, 14th (Light) Division succeeded in capturing trenches in and on the east side of Delville Wood and in taking two hundred prisoners.

Last night the French captured Angle Wood, north-east of Hardecourt-au-Bois, north-west of Maurepas and some way south of Guillemont, which they subsequently handed over to 35th Division. 

An attack by 35th Division on a strong-point near Arrowhead Copse was unsuccessful but a trench called Zig-Zag Trench which moves into the remains of Guillemont was captured by 24th Division.

This afternoon an attack on the quarry on the western edge of Guillemont has failed and, although a gallant fight for Guillemont Station was put up by the attackers, our men were unable to hold it due to the number of casualties they had taken. Thus Guillemont still evades the grasping hand of the British Army. 

Day Fifty One on the Somme

Sunday 20th August 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

Today 33rd Division again attacked one of the woods which have so sorely tried the army in this Battle of the Somme – High Wood. They succeeded in occupying a trench on the western edge of the wood which will, hopefully, be the jumping-off point for a successful attack on the wood itself at some later date.

Day Forty Nine on the Somme

Friday 18th August 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

Today has seen more activity than any other day this month so far. On the left of the British line as it attacks from south to north, 33rd Division attacked High Wood. This novel attack was intended to use a German tactic, first used against British troops in July last year at Hooge near Ypres and used against 1st Division yesterday – flame-throwers, as well as oil drums hurled by Livens Projectors(1). Unfortunately the flamethrowers failed and the Livens Projectors were damaged and buried by the British barrage which fell short of its target. Given these failures it is not surprising that the infantry were unable to get forward in any numbers. Despite the setbacks, however, the imaginative thinking employed can only be applauded. At least Wood Trench between High Wood and Delville Wood (and north-west of Delville Wood) was captured.

In the centre of the attack Delville Wood has, once more, been attacked, along with the trenches immediately bordering it to the west and east. This time the unit drawing the proverbial short straw was 14th (Light) Division. Some prisoners were taken in the centre of the remains of the wood and gains were made, with a number of trenches falling to the attackers in the wood and either side of it.

An old and hated name resurfaced briefly in conversation today - Trônes Wood. 24th Division began an attack east on Guillemont from there this morning, following the line of the remains of the track leading from the remains of wood to the remains of the village. The attack mostly ground to a halt in front of the German wire, stopped by machine-guns. However, the German line was penetrated near the quarry on the west side of Guillemont and the position has been consolidated. In the area between the north-west of Guillemont and south-east of Delville Wood progress was made and around one hundred prisoners taken.

The right flank of the attack was south of Guillemont. 3rd Division attacked a trench called Lonely Trench east of Maltz Horn Farm near the road south from Hardecourt-au-Bois to Guillemont – a place which has become as infamous to Tommy Atkins as Delville Wood or High Wood and is generally known as the Gillymong Road. Trenches south-east of Arrowhead Copse were also attacked. Most of these attacks were unsuccessful. Meanwhile French troops took some more of the village of Maurepas and joined up with 3rd Division south of Guillemont. We have just heard, however, that the French have, again, been pushed back by a German counter-attack.

Meanwhile the Australians on the Pozières Ridge made further attacks towards Mouquet Farm as wel las south-east of the road from Albert to Bapaume. We understand some progress has been made here, too.

(1) Essentially large buried mortars

Day Forty Eight on the Somme

Thursday 17th August 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

We understand that the attacks carried out in the vicinity of Guillemont yesterday, by our 3rd Division and the French 153rd Division have unraveled overnight. The French were forced to give way by strong German counter-attacks and 3rd Division did not manage to hold the road from Guillemont to Hardecourt due to failures of attacks by other units of the same division on its flanks. The one bright spot is that a particularly troublesome enemy trench called Cochrane Alley, near Maltz Horn Farm, was taken yesterday and has been held.

Early this morning 1st Division was attacked by the enemy in a trench which it had secured to the west of High Wood. The enemy used flame-throwers, ghastly weapons men of the 1st Bedfords will remember from attacks they faced near Ypres in July last year. Unfortunately some of the trench was lost to the enemy.

Day Twenty Three on the Somme

Sunday 23rd July 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

After a short two day lull the Battle of the Somme returned today in earnest. On this twenty third day of the struggle, the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment looked as if it was about to go into action in support of 13th Brigade of 5th Division in attacking Longueval but in the event that formation made no attack. This evening the battalion is preparing to move to a front line position between those two woods obdurately still in German hands – High Wood and Delville Wood.

There has been more fighting at the last-named wood today. A large-scale bombardment began last night for an attack early this morning and 3rd Division together with 95th Brigade of 5th Division (which replaced 14th Brigade in the division at the end of last year) assaulted Longueval village and strong-points in orchards to the north of it. The attacks initially made good progress but foundered on strong German resistance. An attack was planned later in the day for 13th Brigade but, as mentioned above, this was cancelled.

The other miserable wood (this battle at times seems almost exclusively arboreal) was attacked this morning by 51st (Highland) Division many of whose faces are familiar to those in Bedford where the division was billeted in 1914. Sadly the attack was a failure and, we understand, has cost somewhere in the region of 450 casualties though wounded Highlanders reckon the Germans have also lost severely in brutal hand-to-hand fighting. The Highland Charge so famed from the days of Bonnie Prince Charlie lives on, it seems, undimmed.

The major action of the day has taken place around the village of Pozières which occupies one of the highest points anywhere on the battlefield, astride the main road from Albert to Bapaume. This was undertaken by I ANZAC(1) and X Corps. 48th (South Midland) Division of X Corps and 1st Australian Division attacked from the south just after midnight. The Australians have succeeded in capturing the village and have held out all day against counter-attacks.

Source: X550/2/5

(1) 1st Australian and New Zealand Army Corps consisting of the New Zealand Division and 1st and 2nd Australian Divisions.

Day Twenty on the Somme

Thursday 20th July 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

Today the South Africans were relieved from the evil Delville Wood, now being referred to by all and sundry as Devil’s Wood. The rescue was effected by two battalions from 53rd Brigade, 18th Division, the division which has so greatly distinguished itself in the first three weeks of this great battle. 8th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment and 6th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment finally broke through German defences to bring out the encircled South Africans. Only two wounded officers, we understand and 140 men, out of a total of several thousand who went in, came out of the wood. There is a story doing the rounds, which I cannot verify, that they were piped out by a man of the Black Watch who had fought against the Boers at the Battle of Magersfontein in 1899(1).

A few hundred yards to the north-west 33rd Division attacked High Wood this morning. In vicious fighting they have managed to occupy a portion of the southern edge of this place. Attacks this afternoon saw men of the division reach the northern part of the wood. Sadly they were driven back to the southern end by heavy German shelling.

(1) This was Piper Sandy Grieve.