Day Eighty Four on the Somme

Friday 22nd September 1916: From our Correspondent in the Field

Today III Corps has been consolidating the Starfish Line which the Germans have abandoned. So this Battle of the Somme moves a little way forward. In addition a trench running from Courcelette towards Le Sars has been abandoned by the enemy and taken over by 23rd Division.

One can only assume that the Germans are suffering. They are still fighting the French at Verdun and our army’s attacks, though they have cost us thousands of dead and injured, must have hurt them as badly. It is noticeable that the German doctrine calls for immediate and heavy counter-attacks when a position is lost and these must inflict as many casualties on them as the initial assault does on our men. For the Germans to give up a number of trenches like this is unusual and may reflect the fact that the enemy are, slowly, being “bled white” as they themselves planned to do to the French at Verdun(1)

(1) The Battle of the Somme would cost around half a million British and Commonwealth casualties and a quarter of a million French. The Germans would lose somewhere between these two figures. The casualties at Verdun were of about the same magnitude – half a million each for French and Germans. This day would prove to be exactly half way through the war.

Day Eighty Three on the Somme

Thursday 21st September 1916: From our Correspondent in the Field

Last night, around 8.30 the industrious New Zealanders attacked enemy positions north-west of Flers. This attack, without any artillery support, took the Germans completely by surprise and they were pushed back. A resulting German counter-attack was then thrown back.

It seems that the Germans have abandoned the Starfish Line which gave such trouble to the 47th (1st/2nd London) and 50th (Northumbrian) Divisions. These trenches near Martinpuich will no doubt be taken over and consolidated.

Day Eighty on the Somme

Monday 18th September 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

In the poor weather conditions of last evening few of us were surprised to hear this morning that the attack by 20th (Light) Division towards Lesboeufs was unsuccessful. 1st Bedfords had been attached to this division but did not take part in the attack and this morning moved back from Waterlot Farm to the old German Front Line between Guillemont and Wedge Wood, a place all too familiar to them from their action around Falfemont Farm earlier this month. They have now, once more, come under the orders of 5th Division.

The battered 8th Battalion has moved into trenches nearby, south-east of Guillemont. They acted as reserve for another attack on the Quadrilateral, this time by 1st Battalion, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry supported by 2nd Battalion, York & Lancaster Regiment and 1st Battalion, The Buffs. The Salopians succeeded where the Bedfords had failed and took the place. The main reason for this is that someone in the supporting artillery had obviously issued a “rocket” to the gunners who this time laid down an impeccable barrage ahead of the attacking troops. As I write this 5th Division, with the 1st Bedfords, is beginning to relieve 6th Division. 56th (London) Division attacked this morning towards Combles and the south-eastern face of Bouleaux Wood but could not make much headway.

Away on the left 47th (1st/2nd London) Division manage to reinforce men in the Starfish Line north of High Wood but could make no further progress. This afternoon 50th (Northumbrian) Division has made some progress in the same locality.

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