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 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 Seven on the Somme

Saturday 26th August 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

Today the 1st Bedfords have moved from Méaulte to Bronfay Farm near Bray-sur-Somme. This is still well behind the lines.

The other regular battalion of the Regiment, 2nd Bedfords, are currently at Gorre near Béthune, miles to the north. Their adjutant has wired that Sergeant R A Foster, Corporal F Selby, Private S F Burrows and Private A Girdlestone have all been awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the recent Somme battles(1)

The Australians have had another crack at Mouquet Farm today and have occupied a trench leading to it. Sadly, no further progress could be made.

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

(1) 18551 Private Samuel Foster Burrows MM, of B Company and from Fulham [London] would be killed on 11th February 1917. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. 10835 Private Albert Edward James Girdlestone MM would be killed on 5th January 1918. He also has no known grave, being commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial near Ypres.

Day Fifty on the Somme

Saturday 19th August 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

Overnight we heard rumours that the successes around Guillemont yesterday had been repulsed. Accordingly, overnight, a special reconnaissance was undertaken which found that, so far from a British repulse, the Germans had fallen back in a line from roughly Falfemont Farm north-west to Wedge Wood, both of which lie south-east of Guillemont. Lonely Trench, which gave so much trouble yesterday, had also been abandoned. Thus today our troops have occupied Lonely Trench and dug in on the eastern side of the Guillemont Road, gaining touch with the French who were also able to reoccupy the ground they had lost. This encouraging event has fuelled fresh optimism that an attack might finally succeed in capturing Guillemont.

Today 1st Australian Division, near the German fortress of Mouquet Farm and south-east of the road to Bapaume, suffered a heavy German counter-attack on the positions they managed to take yesterday. They seem to have weathered them.

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 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.

Day Forty Five on the Somme

14th August 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

This evening Australian troops are moving in the direction of Mouquet Farm  (known variously as Moocow Farm and Mucky Farm), north of Pozières and east of Thiepval, still occupied by the Germans. It is expected that they will make an attack on the farm tonight.

This farm is not far from one of the Somme’s most heavily fortified villages – Thiepval. This hamlet sits on top of a commanding position overlooking the River Ancre. It was attacked by Ulster troops on the first day of the battle but resisted capture despite at one time looking likely to fall. In a terrible situation, which is not rare, the troops who had penetrated the defences ran out of ammunition and became cut-off meaning many were killed and others forced to surrender. It is known that High Command believes that capture of this village is vital if this Battle of the Somme is to progress to a victorious conclusion.

Day Forty on the Somme

Wednesday 9th August 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

The adjutant of 6th Bedfords, attached to 34th Division and currently at Bazentin-le-Petit, that they were involved last night in fighting which claimed one officer and eight other ranks killed, twenty five other ranks missing and two officers and forty nine other ranks wounded.

At Guillemont another attack was made this morning at 4.20. It was met with withering machine-gun fire. An attack south of the railway line was also made by 2nd Division and also failed. Sadly, the men of the 2nd Division who reached Guillemont Station yesterday and those of 55th Division who got into Guillemont near the quarry  on the western side of the village have been killed or captured. I am told parties could be seen through field glasses, being marched away by the Germans.

The 4th Australian Division attacked north-west from Pozières today, along the ridge. The fighting was intense but the German trench known as Park Lane was captured. This is important as it defends a place called Mouquet Farm, which the Germans still hold.

Source: X550/7/1