Advance on Bapaume

Saturday 24th August 1915

The advance continued today with IV Corps busy west of Bapaume. Whilst it was still dark the gallant New Zealand Division attacked the shattered foliage of Loupart Wood and the remains of the village of Grevillers. Meanwhile 37th Division attacked Biefvillers north-east of Grevillers. The intention was then for the men from the Land of the Long White Cloud to go on and take the town of Bapaume - the target, it may be remembered of four months' fighting in 1916. Around two dozen tanks were available to help the Kiwis in their endeavours.

Despite the rather poor weather today the New Zealanders quickly took Grevillers, though at some cost. At this time 37th Division was fruitlessly struggling to get up to Biefvillers under very heavy fire. rather than making a dash for Bapaume the commander of the New Zealand 2nd Brigade decided to add his numbers to those of 37th Division, surely the correct decision, and by ten o'clock this morning the village was taken. By this time the Germans, seeing the danger of this attack rushed reinforcements to the locality and a counter-attack pushed the leading British and New Zealand troops back from Avesnes-le-Comte. Bapaume may not have fallen today but the Kiwis are confident that it will fall tomorrow.

Meanwhile in the early hours of this morning 38th (Welsh) Division recaptured Thiepval and the Schwaben Redoubt. It will be remembered that Thiepval first fell to 7th Bedfords on 26th September 1916 and was held by the 4th Bedfords for a while during March. Seizing this high ground is vital as it overlooks enemy positions. 

La Boiselle and Ovillers, or rather the pathetic little cairns which mark the graves of the houses in these settlements were also taken by 18th Division. We are given to understand that the Welshmen have captured nearly 150 enemy machine guns today. One hundred and fifty! The enemy usually gives up a single one of these weapons up about as willingly as a healthy man would give up a hand, a fact very suggestive as to the state of the enemy's morale. 

In the south 18th Division has taken the hamlet of Becourt and its wood and elements from three divisions (12th 47th and 58th) have retaken Grove Town. During the 1916 battles Grove Town Camp was a huge staging post for men and material moving up to the front line. Finally the Australians have recaptured the remains of the town of Bray on the north bank of the River Somme. Any of these gains would be significant in itself and so many on one day means that the army is really beginning to believe that the dam of German resistance has cracked and it will only take a determined effort to break it completely.

7th Battalion Back to Old Haunts

Saturday 10th February 1917 from our correspondent in the field

The adjutant of the 7th Battalion spoke with me at some length with me today, telling me, with a certain grim relish, that they had returned to the site of one of their old victories - the sorry muddle of holes in the ground that was once Thiepval. They are in dug-outs, except for C Company which inhabits the old German position of Stuff Redoubt. At night the Battalion will be employed in night fatigues in the vicinity of the front line around .

Source: X550/8/1

More on Casualties During the Battle of the Somme

Friday 24th November 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

Following the analysis of the numbers of men who have sacrifices of war in the Battle of the Somme, readers may be interested in the relative costliness of different operations during the course of the battle. The figures below give the number of men killed in action in the most significant attacks made between 1st July and 18th November. The figures are restricted to those killed in action because it is usually impossible to know the actions resulting in deaths due to wounds which can take place several weeks later.

• 1st Day of the Battle and immediate aftermath – 1st to 3rd July: 106 (2nd and 7th Battalions)
• Actions at Contalmaison and Pozières  – 9th to 15th July: 92 (6th Battalion)
• Actions in Trônes Wood  - 11th to 14th July: 61 (2nd and 7th Battalions)
• Actions at Longueval and Delville Wood – 22nd to 31st July: 105 (1st Battalion)
• Actions south of Guillemont – 30th July to 24th September: 138 (1st and 2nd Battalions)
• Actions near Morval – 13th to 25th September: 158 (8th Battalion)
• Actions at Thiepval – 26th to 29th September: 93 (7th Battalion)
• Actions east of Le Sars – 11th to 12th October: 83 (2nd Battalion)
• Actions on the River Ancre – 31st October to 16th November: 110 (4th and 6th Battalions)

Day One Hundred and Twenty One on the Somme

Captain Pearse

Sunday 29th October 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

Today we hear from the 2nd Bedfords that they have marched to billets in Pommier, where Captain L F Beal is Town Major. Lieutenant N V Dabell has left the battalion temporarily, as he is going to replace Captain H A W Pearse as adjutant of 30th Divisional School.

33rd Division have again attacked the enemy east of Lesboeufs in heavy rain today. Even heavier enemy fire prevented any advance. 

39th Division took some ground at a point known as the Pope’s Nose on the slope from the River Ancre up to Thiepval, where Mill Lane branches off from Thiepval Road. We have had rain since 25th of this month and the going, bad before, is now worse. The devastation of millions of shells have destroyed all natural drainage and so the ground, in many areas, is effectively waterlogged.

Source: X550/3/wd

Day One Hundred and Fourteen on the Somme

Sunday 22nd October 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

Today 19th (Northern) Division has relieved 25th and part of 39th Division near Thiepval. More prisoners have been taken today, bringing the total for the last two days to over a thousand. These are all men the German Army here can ill afford to lose.

Day Ninety on the Somme

Thursday 28th September 1916: From our Correspondent in the Field

Today has been a day of light rain but this has not prevented another attack by the Bedfords. Having seized Thiepval yesterday they were ordered to take part in another attack, this time on the Schwaben Redbout on a spur of land north of the village ruins. As Captain Bridcutt told me: “From early morning until 12 Noon every one was going at high pressure, preparing for another attack on the ground which included a very high ridge and a Redoubt called the Schwaben Redoubt to the North of Thiepval. At 12 Noon the Battalion was ready for this attack and disposed as follows: A and B were the assaulting companies, D Company was in a dug-out and C Company was Battalion Reserve”.

The attack got underway at 1 pm and much use was made of numbered points on the map to navigate. I am lucky enough to have a sketch plan of these points which I reproduce above and which may assist the reader to follow the action. Colonel Price took a moment from his ongoing exertions was kind enough to tell me what has happened: “In order to conform with the barrage, bombing stops and the forward line previously held were all brought back on the line 34, 33, 43, 83. A and B Companies were the assaulting companies and formed up on the line 34 to 83, their fourth line being between points 13-60. D Company, detailed as clearing-up company, formed up with the two assaulting companies. C Company, in support, were formed up on the roads 67-19, two machine guns were detailed with supporting Company. A Company, 5th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, was used as a Battalion Reserve with the remaining three Companies in support of main attack”.

View from the front line to towards the Schwaben Redoubt on the crest of the ridge in the distance

“The forming up by mid-day was an exceedingly difficult operation as the trenches in question were in full view of the enemy and the light was very good. It was however successfully carried out”.

“The Artillery barrage which opened at 1 pm was very effective, very little enemy fire was met with until lifts in the barrage occurred. The waves followed the barrage very closely and went in beautiful formation until points 29 and 49 were reached”.

Line of attack by the right-hand platoons of the battalion

"A Company, on the right, made for the Cemetery and from thence to swing on to Market Trench but, unfortunately, the right platoon got knocked right out by machine gun fire from the Schwaben Redoubt before ever reaching Market Trench. The whole line from here on appears to have commenced to lay to the left - partly forced there by pressure of the Queen’s (West Surrey) Regiment, on their right. The supports hereabouts joined the assaulting Companies, who were suffering severely from machine gun fire”.

“From this point the Boches could be seen streaming away in full flight towards Saint-Pierre-Divion along trenches 19-63-54 and towards 69. About 2.30 Captain Keep arranged with an officer of the Queen’s to relieve him of trench 22-45 and his bomb stop in trench 45-19. About 3 pm the line 22-45 was taken over by Company Sergeant Major Brand(1) who had with him men of A Coy and West Yorkshires, the latter on the right. Sergeant Patterson of the West Yorks held Strong Point 45 with a platoon of his men”.

“After arranging with the Queen’s officer, Captain Keep hurried back to Point 86 and found that the party at Point 19 had fallen back towards Point 86 making a bombing stop half way up that trench. There was great confusion reigning at this time and the troops available had to be retold-off. Men of the West Yorkshire Regiment under Second Lieutenant Brawn were told off to hold the Line 19-86 with a bombing stop and line 19-63 while Second Lieutenant Cartwright with two Lewis guns and a Stokes mortar was put in charge of a strong point 50 yards west of Point 86. This point was immediately counter-attacked, but as quickly driven off(2)”.

“About 4 pm the shortage of Mills bombs and ammunition was acutely felt. Boche bombs from dugouts were of immense value. The situation at this point was somewhat precarious. It appeared as if the Queen’s had failed to reach point 65 and to clear the dug-outs in second line trench from that point to Point 45. From Point 45 to Point 19 the situation was uncertain except that we held points 45 and 19 but the intervening trench had not been exploited. No bombs were available to do this work”.

“The attack on extreme left advanced very quickly. They had flanking bombing parties posted forward which proved to be invaluable. The Lewis guns advanced on the left flank through Points 36, 29 and 22. Very few casualties or serious opposition were experienced until reaching Points 29, 49, 72”.

“At Point 29 the Boche had a machine-gun emplacement covered by a strong bombing party of some forty men. The flanking bombing party was held up and had to wait until the dug-out clearing party came to their assistance. It was here the first three waves suffered losses – Second Lieutenant Adlam(3) orgainsed a strong party, told the men to cheer and they charged the strong point with him as leader, in one big rush, overbore all resistance and completely wiped out the enemy. The Lewis Guns did great execution at this point. Two more strong points between Points 29 and 91 were taken at point of bayonet after a bomb preparation”.

“The situation hereafter became very difficult, as it was impossible to recognise any trenches owing to the intensity of the Artillery preparation which had obliterated everything. The final objective was almost impossible to locate accurately. This may account for parties of men over-reaching by far the final objective - some patrols pushing as far as Points 47 and 35. The final objective was held early on in the day and the whole of the Boche front line by parties of Lancashire Fusiliers, Bedfords and West Yorkshires”.

Of course the battle still goes on, particularly on the right hand section of the attack, but before turning his attention to events here the Colonel was able to give me a few of his views on the operations so far: “The whole of this operation was carried out with great dash, personal cases of daring bravery were very numerous. The taking of strong points with a determined rush came off every time”.

“The fact that there were two points numbered 45 led to great confusion and accounted for the lagging of the line away from what was, after all, the true objective - the Schwaben Redoubt. The fact that the right of the right attack was blotted out by machine gun fire may have led to the Queen’s filling-in the gap and causing them to lose their real line”.

“I am fully prepared to hold line won by us till day light tomorrow, or even later. The courage, resolution and endurance displayed by all ranks was quite wonderful. They were out to kill and the battlefield is a witness that they carried out to the full their intentions”.

As far as we can tell the southern and western faces of the Schwaben Redoubt are now in the hands of 18th Division. No doubt we can expect more fighting over night.

Today the area around the village of Morval has been handed over to the French 6th Army. In fact today has seen a number of the divisions which attacked on 25th relieved by new divisions, their work having been well done.

View from Cartwright's Post over the Ancre Valley

Source: X550/8/1

(1) Company Sergeant Major Richard Brand MM, DCM would be killed at Chérisy on 3rd May 1917 and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial.

(2) Second Lieutenant Henry Cartwright would be wounded at Chérisy but would survive the war. In his memoirs he expressed disappointment that he was not recommended for a Military Cross for his work on this day. He named his strong-point Cartwright’s Post.

(3) He would receive the Victoria Cross for this action and for his gallantry and initiative on the previous day’s attack.

Day Eighty Nine on the Somme

Wednesday 27th September 1916: From our Correspondent in the Field

This morning I received some splendid news from the adjutant of the 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, Captain Bridcutt. Readers will remember that yesterday 54th Brigade of 18th Division seized a good part of the fortress village of Thiepval: “The Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel G. D. Price and I arrived at the Chateau in Thiepval. After conferring with Lieutenant-Colonel Maxwell, 12th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, commanding the scattered portions of the three battalions (12th Middlesex, 11th Royal Fusiliers and 6th Northamptonshires) Colonel Price decided to attack the untaken portion of Thiepval - the north-western part of the village. Dispositions for the attack were as follows C and D Companies, commanded by Captains Leslie Keep and Mulligan respectively, were detailed for the assault which was to be carried out in two waves with C Company on the right and D Company on the left. A and B Companies were sheltered close at hand in German dug-outs. Zero was fixed for 5.30 a.m.”

Captain T R J Mulligan

“The morning was extremely dark and the assaulting companies had great difficulty in forming up for the attack on the correct alignment. At about 5.45 all was ready and a few minutes later the two waves advanced, sweeping across the untaken portion of ground and the enemy trenches. Two machine-guns and a good deal of rifle fire opened from the enemy's lines but our troops continued to advance and in a short time were in possession of the German trenches on the north-western face of Thiepval. Captain Mulligan and Second Lieutenant Potts fell, badly wounded but during the action 36 prisoners were taken and about a hundred Germans killed by rifle fire and bayonets”.

“This action, though apparently small, was of the utmost importance as without the whole of the Village of Thiepval and the trenches surrounding it being captured, the whole line of attack was held up. So to the 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment (especially C and D Companies) belongs the honour and glory of the final destruction of one of the Germans’ strongest positions and one which they had boasted could never be taken”.

“Our casualties were 2 officers above mentioned and about 110 other ranks in the above action. The other three battalions of the 54th Brigade, who made yesterday’s attack on Thiepval, had been withdrawn to cover in our support area”. If Captain Bridcutt sounded elated he can be forgiven. The Battalion, and the division more widely, has achieved something of note today, the equal of its successes on the first day of the battle and at Trônes Wood.

I have since learned that of just over one hundred men wounded, 51 have been killed today, with two having died last night in moving up to support the brigade attack. A number of others will likely not survive the day. An officer killed, not mentioned by the adjutant, is Second Lieutenant Ian Ross-Taylor from Essex. Lieutenant Henry Potts is very gravely wounded and has been moved back to a hospital near Boulogne(1).

This evening Captain Bridcutt has been back in touch. It looks as if the battalion will be called on again tomorrow to attack one of the three redoubts which lie near Thiepval from north to east – Schwaben Redoubt to the north. This promises to be a more dangerous operation than the taking of the village.

This afternoon 11th Division, having taken Mouquet Farm yesterday but failed to take another of these redoubts – Zollern Redoubt, tried again. Evidently they had done considerabe damage in their attack yesterday as they found the place empty and have gladly occupied it. No doubt the seizure of Thiepval also contributed to this evacuation as the place was then outflanked. They have also attacked the third of the redoubts, which lies just north of Zollern Redoubt – Stuff Redoubt. An attack here this morning filed but this afternoon 9th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment attacked alone. This can be disastrous but to the Yorkshiremen’s credit they have obtained a toehold on the southern face of the redoubt. An hour later another Yorkshire unit – 6th Battalion Green Howards, who had been due to attack with the West Yorkshires, took eighty or so prisoners in a nearby trench and joined their colleagues at the south face of the redoubt.

The Canadians have been involved in heavy fighting south of Le Sars over a trench called Kenora Trench, which is an eastern extension of the Regina Trench mentioned yesterday.

Elsewhere 55th (West Lancashire) Division have taken another section of Gird Trench, north-west of Gueudecourt, the village which fell yesterday. The Germans still hold part of this trench, where it joins with another called Goose Alley. 1st Division and 23rd Division have also made small gains today.

Source: X550/8/1

(1) He would die on 1st October and is buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery.

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 Five on the Somme

A sketch of G P Mills in his cycling days

Saturday 23rd September 1916: From our Correspondent in the Field

We have heard from the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, that they are preparing to go into action again. This will be their third attack on the Somme, following Delville Wood and Longueval on 27th July and then Falfemont Farm between 3rd and 6th of this month.

We heard that Captain Leslie Keep of 7th Battalion was inspecting the area around Thiepval a few days ago. His battalion is now on the move. This morning they marched from Raincheval to Varennes, a few miles behind the lines. This afternoon the second-in-command Major G P Mills has inspected reserve trenches near Thiepval.

George Pilkington Mills made something of a name for himself before the war as a champion cyclist. Born in 1867 he made a number of trips from land’s End to John O’Groats by bicycle, at times holding the World record time for the distance. He also won the first race for bicyclists from Bordeaux to Paris in 1891. He then began to race automobiles and motor bicycles. Having joined the army in 1889 he retired as a major in 1906 before volunteering at the outbreak of this war.

Source: X550/2/5; X550/8/1

Day Eighty One on the Somme

Tuesday 19th September 1916: From our Correspondent in the Field

The adjutant of the 2nd Battalion, now well away to the north of the Somme has spoken to me on the telephone this afternoon telling me about awards for men of the battalion for bravery in their recent participation in the battle of the Somme. Private A W Brandon has received the Russian medal of Saint George, 4th Class and the Military medal has been awarded to the following:

• No.21160 Pte.R.Hooson
• No.21172 Pte.T.Lees
• No.9757 L/C.A.Thorogood
• No.9297 Cpl.G.Gurney
• No.9387 L/C.F.Boyce
• No.5389 Sgt.F.Robinson
• No.9022 Pte.A.Milliard
• No.16641 Sgt.F.Brown
• No.14470 Cpl.S.Thurgood
• No.15111 Pte.E.Humbles
• No.18833 Pte.F.Sutton
• No.18180 Pte.H.Gray
• No.18812 Pte.L.Palmer
• No.9617 Sgt.R.Kirby
• No.17906 Pte.W.Gadsby
• No.12951 Pte.A.Wood(1) 

Captain Leslie Keep of the 7th Battalion has told me that he has been to the front line trenches near Thiepval today to reconnoitre the ground. He did not seem too happy at the prospect. He also told me that Captain A E Percival(2) has been awarded the Military Cross for his actions on 1st July. Private H W Fish, formerly of C Company (since transferred to the 1st Bedfords) has received the Distinguished Conduct Medal. The 8th Battalion, or what remains of it, has moved back to Morlancourt.

On the battlefield there has been small movement across the battle-front as units secure the objectives set for the great attack on 15th September. Only the 47th (1st/2nd London) Division has met with any real set-back as their probes forward were pushed back to a position called The Cough Drop north of High Wood and at the bottom right of the map above.

Sources: X550/3/wd; X550/8/1; X550/9/1

(1) Sergeant George Gurney MM was killed on 22nd March 1918 and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial. Lance Corporal F Boyce MM had died on 11th August 1916 and is buried in Saint-Sever Cemetery, Rouen. Lance Corporal Hubert Ernest Gray MM was killed on 27th September 1918 and is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial. Company Sergeant Major Robert Gladstone Kirby MM was killed on 26th July 1917 and is buried at Bedford House Cemetery. Private Andrew Wood MM was killed on 13th November 1917 and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

(2) This is Lieutenant-General Arthur Percival, the man who surrendered Singapore to the Japanese in 1942. His decorations would eventually include the Order of the Bath, the Distinguished Service Cross, with bar, the Order of the British Empire and the Order of Saint John.

Day Seventy Six on The Somme

Thursday 14th September 1916: From our Correspondent in the Field

This evening we can hear the heavy growl of artillery and the staccato popping of rifle fire away to the west in the vicinity of the ridge-top hamlet of Thiepval. We understand that 11th Division are attacking the ridge. Meanwhile the 56th (London) Division have been digging assembly trenches south of Leuze Wood.

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 Twenty Four on the Somme

Monday 24th July 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

Early this morning the Australians again made attacks at Pozières, trying to push up from the village to trenches north and east of the village. The British 1st Division also attacked on the Australians’ right. In both cases some small successes have been achieved, we understand.

We have been told that these battles around Pozières may hold the key to the battle as a whole. The area around the village stretching north-west to the hamlet of Thiepval is the highest in the area and will give a commanding view of German positions to north and east. This will allow our artillery to register more successfully on their targets which should make further attacks easier.