The Somme Day by Day

[Groundhog]

To mark the 90^th Anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, I am going to attempt a day by day account of the campaign. (God help us). I reproduced the map from johnclare.net, hope he doesn't mind.

Although it became a 141 day long slogging match lasting until the 18^th of November, the original plan anticipated a general advance along an 18 mile front on day one. This plan failed and as we know, the first day of the battle was the bloodiest in British history with almost 60,000 casualties of which 20,000 were fatalities.



Saturday 1^st July 1916. Day 1.

Gommecourt

VII Corps, consisting of the 46 (North Midlands) and 56 (London) Divisions was to attack the village of Gommecourt. This was the northernmost area on the Somme front and the attack was in fact just a diversion to draw the Germans away from the main assault to the south. Furthermore VII Corps was in Third Army while Rawlinson’s Fourth Army was to conduct the Somme Offensive.

The 56^th Division attacked south of Gommecourt and the 46^th north of the village. The 56^th quickly captured the German frontline trench. However the assault on the second line failed and was driven back to the German frontline trench by 4pm. The 46^th division failed to take it’s initial objective and the Divisonal Commander was later sacked.

Serre

The plan here was for the 31^st Division to break through the German lines, take Serre and cover the northern flank of the attack on Beaumont Hamel. The attack was hampered by poor artillery support which lifted from the German frontline at ten minutes before Zero. The creeping barrage moved far more quickly than the infantry advance and the smoke screen that was planned to cover the advance never appeared. The infantry began to advance at 7.30 but was quickly halted by German machine gun and artillery fire. In this division the Accrington, Barnsley and Leeds Pals battalions fought. One group of the Accrington Pals made it into Serre but was cut off and annihilated. 580 out of 720 men of this battalion were killed or wounded.

Beaumont Hamel


This area was attacked by the 29^th Division, their first operation in France having moved from Gallipoli early in the year. The Dublin and Munster Fusiliers were in the Division. Here also the Newfoundland Regiment began it’s fruitless advance from the reserve trenches across open ground. The communications trenches which they should have used were clogged with dead and wounded men. In this area the Hawthorn Ridge mine was detonated, the explosion being filmed by a cameraman and the film shown on every WW1 documentary ever since. The Hawthorn Ridge mine was detonated ten minutes before Zero hour giving the surviving Germans ample warning of the pending attack. From near the cameraman’s position the 1^st Lancashire Fusiliers attacked Beaumont Hamel from the treet>Sunken Roadtreet>

Thiepval

The 32^nd and 36^th (Ulster)Divisions attacked here attempting to capture the high ground around the village of Thiepval. Fortunes were mixed for various units. South of Thiepval the 17^th Highland Light Infantry crawled to within 40 yards of the German line before zero hour and dashed forward to capture the Leipzig Redoubt and establish a new line 400 yards beyond it. At Thiepval itself the Newcastle Commercials were decimated as they advanced through the gaps in their own wire, while the Salford Pals advanced through the village only to be cut off and destroyed by the Germans who were supposed to have been killed in their dugouts by the artillery. By afternoon, the HLI had retreated back to the German line, support having failed to reach them.

North of Thiepval the Inniskilling Fusiliers advanced 400 yards and captured the Schwaben Redoubt. Here they were joined at 8.30 by the Royal Irish Rifles who advanced on Stuff Redoubt, the division’s second objective. However they advanced into their own barrage and were decimated. The survivors retreated to the old German line.

[Groundhog]

Ovillers

Here the 8th Division, including the 1^st Bn, Royal Irish Rifles was tasked with a direct assault on the village itself. In this area No Man's Land was 400 yards wide. South of the village the attack was conducted by 23 Brigade, 70 of whom reached the German front line, but they were forced out of it by a counter-attack after 2 hours. The 70th Brigade north of the village, attacking up a sunken road called 'The Nab' managed to reach the German Front line, but were stopped 80 yards short of the German second line by a machine gun at the top of the valley. In the centre, 25 Brigade were slaughtered as they tried to cross No Man's Land; very few of the reached the German line, and they failed to hold onto it.
Of about 300 officers and 8000 men, the Division lost 189 officers and 4719 men dead or wounded.

La Boiselle


La Boiselle is situated on a ridge of high ground separated from Ovillers by MashValley. SausageValley lay south of the ridge. The 34^th Division was tasked with capturing La Boiselle, attacking up the two valleys. Near La Boiselle was detonated the huge mine that created the Lochnagar Crater. The Tyneside Irish Brigade formed part of the 34^th Div and was in support that morning. At Zero hour they left the Support Trenches and advanced to the front line to follow the Tyneside Scottish in the attack. The 34^th Div captured the German front line trench but advanced little further. A group of the Tyneside Irish advanced a full 4km to Contalmaison before being surrounded and wiped out by the Germans. Of 16 Divisions which attacked on 1^st July, the 34^th suffered the heaviest casualties.

Fricourt

The village of Fricourt was exposed in a right-angled spur on the German line. The plan was that the 21st Division would attack eastwards around the village to the north and the 7th Division would attack northwards from the south (through the village of Mametz). Then, when the Germans in Fricourt were cut off, the 7th Green Howards of the 21st Division would make a direct frontal assault on the village itself. The 7^th managed to advance 700 yards before being forced back to the German front line trench the 21^st just managed the capture of the German line in their area. 2^nd Bn Royal Irish Regiment was in 7^th Division though they were in reserve and not committed on the day. The attack on Fricourt was observed by Siegfried Sassoon from an OP behind the British line. The area also holds the DevonshireTrenchCemetery in Mansell Copse. Capt Martin, a Company Commander in the Devonshires had predicted that his battalion would suffer casualties from a German Machine Gun post in MametzCemetery. He was right and he and many of his men are buried in the trench from which they advanced.

Montauban

The most successful attack of the day with an assault by two divisions on a two mile front. In this area Capt Neville of the 8^th Bn, East Surrey Regt started the attack by booting a football into No Man’s Land. Montauban was quickly overrun and the British linked up with the French in Glatz redoubt. The smoke screen worked, the infantry kept up with the artillery and a flamethrower was used to clear German dugouts.

The French

South of the British five French Divisions attacked at 9.30 and advanced over 1 km before consolidating.

[haribo]

' The Somme -From Defeat to Victory 'was a drama documentry shown tonight on bbc 1 ,exploring the battle from the soldiers perspective .

It showed the influence the conflict had on military strategy for years to come.

[ollie]

' The Somme -From Defeat to Victory 'was a drama documentry shown tonight on bbc 1 ,exploring the battle from the soldiers perspective .

It showed the influence the conflict had on military strategy for years to come.

unfortunatly i only caught the last 20 min or so of it , mind you it was enthralling to watch up there with bbc's other docuramas .

its also being released on dvd so could well be worth picking up

[Groundhog]

Sunday 2nd July 1916. Day 2.

Thiepval

The 36^th Divison held the ground it had captured despite several German counter attacks until relieved at dusk by 49^th Division. The 29^th took over the area north of the river Ancre.

Ovillers
A dawn attack was cancelled and 12^th Div relieved the 8^th. during the day. Preparations were made for an attack on the following day.


La Boiselle

The 19^th Division attacked and captured La Boiselle in the evening. A night attack had failed to materialise the previous evening due to the inability of the 57^th and 58^th Bdes to get forward through the crowded communications trenches. By dawn on the 2^nd only one battalion (9^th Cheshires, 58^th Bde)had advanced to relieve the remnants of the 34^th Div at Schwaben Hohe crater.

58^th Bde attacked La Boiselle at 4pm while a diversionary bombardment and smokescreen were laid on Ovillers. Meanwhile 34^th Div and two companies of the East Lancs from 57^th Bde captured 1000 yards of trench beyond Sausage Redoubt.In La Boiselle 6^th Wiltshires and 9^th Royal Welsh Fusiliers captured the German trench west of the village. Reinforced by 9^th Cheshires the western end of the village was captured by 9pm.

Fricourt

The village was occupied in the early morning having been entered by a patrol of the 8^th Bn, Staffordshire Regt during the night. It was fully occupied by noon and the 7^th Div advanced into Fricourt Wood capturing some German trenches in the area. The 21^st and 7^th Divisions linked up at 2pm at a copse called Poodles north of Fricourt.

Montauban area

From 3am the Germans made two counterattacks on the 30^th Division from Bernafay Wood. Both attacks were broken up by artillery and an attempt was made to set the wood alight with Thermite.

[Groundhog]

Monday 3rd July 1916.. Day 3

All the effort is now concentrated mostly south of the treet>Albert-Bapaume Roadtreet> between La Boiselle and Montauban. The only action north of the road is at Ovillers.


Ovillers

Another attack on this village by the 12^th Div ended in total failure at a cost of 2,400 casualties.

North of Ovillers, the 32^nd Div reinforced by 75 Bde of 25^th Div attacked the Leipzig Redoubt near Authuille Wood. There was utter confusion over start times and the 32^nd Div attack consisted of only two companies of the Highland Light Infantry. After two attempts no gains were made.


La Boiselle

Fighting continued here with 34^th Div trying to link up with 19^th Div. 34^th Div relieved by 23^rd Div in the night. During the early morning 19^th Div advanced 100 yards in the east end of the village.



Fricourt

North East of Fricourt, attacks were made on Bottom Wood and Shelter Wood, the 17^th Div capturing the former and 21^st Div the latter. Counterattacks from Contalmaison were repulsed at 2pm.



Mametz Wood

An attempt to capture this wood by 1^st Bn Royal Welsh Fusiliers and 2^nd Bn Royal Irish Regt (both 7^th Div) failed when both battalions got lost on the way.


Caterpillar Wood, Montauban

Captured by 10^th Bn, Essex Regt (53 Bde, 18^th Div) at 4am.


Bernafay Wood, Montauban

Bernafay Wood, east of Montauban was attacked at 9am by 6^th Bn Kings Own Scottish Borderers and 12^th Bn Royal Scots (both 27^th Bde, 9^th Div). The two battalions advanced 500 yards, capturing 17 prisoners, three field guns and three machine guns. Patrols entered Trones Wood.

[Groundhog]

Tuesday 4th July 1916. Day 4


Most of the activity is still concentrated south of the treet>Albert-Bapaume Roadtreet>. The Gemans have been pushed back from 1 to 2 km between Fricourt and Montauban. The village of La Boiselle has been captured save some ruins at the east end of the village. North of the road, the opposing forces have more or less remained static since July 1^st.


Thiepval

The 49^th Division had to fight off German bombing parties north of Thiepval from 9.30am. A counterattack was unsuccessful as were two night attacks on St. Pierre Divion.

La Boiselle

Fighting continued in the village with 56^th Bde clearing the ruins.

Fricourt

The 17^th Div was engaged in trench fighting working it’s way towards Contalmaison, 2km north of Shelter Wood.

Montauban area

During the night the 18^th Div advanced from Caterpillar Wood and occupied Marlboro Wood unopposed.

[Groundhog]

Wednesday 5th July 1916. Day 5



Mametz Wood

At 12.45am four battalions- 2^nd Royal Irish, 1^st Royal Welsh Fusiliers of 22 Bde, 7^th Div and from 52 Bde, 17^th Div, 9^th Northumberland Fusiliers and 10^th Lancashire Fusiliers launched an attack on Mametz Wood. The 17^th Div secured it’s objectives of Quadrangle Trench and Shelter Alley. The Royal Irish were held up by wire and counter attacked by the Germans, failing to secure the Wood and Wood Trench despite three attempts.

The photograph below shows Mametz Wood as it is today. The meanderind wood on the left above Mametz wood is Caterpillar Wood. 7th Div's attack started on the rising ground just south of the wood, the front line ran more or less east-west in that area on July 5th. This and other aerial photos of the Somme are on the Westren Front Association Website.

From the War Diary of 2^nd Bn Royal Irish Regt 5th - 6th July 1916

The 2nd Royal Irish and 1st Royal Welsh Fusiliers were ordered to attack Quadrangle Trench – Wood Trench and south corner of Mametz Wood with the 1st Royal Warwicks in support at Bottom Wood. Our objective was Wood Trench and Mametz Wood. This attack was commenced at 10:15pm under a heavy barrage from our guns. C Company under Captain Bell was ordered to attack Wood Trench with A Company in support. The Grenade Company under Captain Gordon-Ralph was again ordered to attack Strip Trench with B Company on their right to form a defensive flank. D Company was kept in Battalion reserve. The Royal Welsh Fusiliers attacked on our left, their objective being Quadrangle Trench.
A rapid and dashing attack was made by all the Companies concerned. C Company reached the wire in front of Wood Trench in less than 10 minutes, while the Grenade Company again entered Strip Trench. The wire in front of Wood Trench was found by C Company to be uncut and being extremely thick could not be penetrated. This Company was exposed to a very heavy close range fire and suffered severely, Captain Bell being killed in the German wire and two of his officers wounded. C Company was ordered to retire about 50 yards under cover of a fold in the ground and await reinforcements from A Company which were brought up rapidly by Captain O’Reilly who took command of both Companies. Three times between midnight and dawn Captain O’Reilly attacked Wood Trench in the most gallant manner, each time being only held up by the German wire which proved an insurmountable obstacle. The enemy's fire was intense and their trenches were very strongly held.
At dawn at the Commanding Officer ordered Captain O’Reilly to give it up and return which he was most reluctant to do although severely wounded in the hand. On our left the Royal Welsh Fusiliers entered the German trenches but were unable to bomb along to our assistance as the Quadrangle Trench did not join up with Wood Trench. Meanwhile the Grenade Company covered by B Company were hammering away at Strip Trench and here fighting was almost entirely of hand to hand nature. Captain Gordon-Ralph was wounded in the neck but carried on until carried away unconscious. Lieutenant Pike who took command of the Grenade Company led two attacks on Strip Trench and once again entered Mametz Wood only to be driven out by fierce bombing counter attacks. Captain Moore-Brabazon was a wounded in the foot by an enemy bayonet and handed over command of the company to Lieutenant Blake who was blown up by a shell and carried away shortly after.
Attack after attack was made but progress was impossible and after about 3:30am the battalion was ordered by the BGC 22nd Brigade to retire and return to Mansel Copse.
Our casualties in this attack were 125 all ranks. Captain Bell and Lieutenant White were killed, both inside the German wire; Captain Moore-Brabazon, Captain O'Reilly, Lieutenant Blake, Captain Gordon-Ralph, Lieutenant Price and CSM Burns were wounded. The Chaplain, the Reverend Father Fitzmaurice distinguished himself by rescuing wounded under heavy fire and RSM Carew did very good work getting up ammunition under fire.

Further north 69 Bde of 23^rd Div launched an attack on Horseshoe Trench and Lincoln Redoubt. The 9^th Bn Green Howards, 10^th Duke of Wellington’s Regt and 11^th West Yorks were engaged in heavy fighting all day finally capturing both objectives in the evening but failing to link up with 17^th Div.

La Boiselle
The village has been captured but now forms a salient in the line with the Germans holding ground to north and south. An unsuccessful attempt was made by the bombers of 56 and 57 Bde 19^th Div to straighten the line to the south.

[Groundhog]

Thursday 6th July 1916. Day 6
La Boiselle
19th Div succeeded in straightening the line south of La Boiselle.

[Groundhog]

Friday 7th July 1916. Day 7

Thiepval

The 25^th and 49^th Divisions were attacked by the Germans with mixed results. At 1.15 am the Germans attacked 7 Bde, 25^th Div holding the Leipzig Salient, the attack here was beaten off after a 4 hour bombing contest between the two sides. Two companies of the 1^st Bn, Wiltshire Regt and the 3^rd Bn Worcestershire Regt then advanced and captured a length of the German front line and held it.

North of Thiepval on the river Ancre, 148 Bde was beaten back to it’s old frontline after a 6 hour bombardment and grenade assault.

Ovillers
12^th Div resumed offensive operations at Ovillers, the first since Monday, with a two-pronged attack, the first by 74 Bde at 8 am from the south across MashValley. Here the 9^th Loyal North Lancashire Regt and 13^th Bn, the Cheshire Regt were halted by MG fire. The second prong was from the west by 36 Bde (8^th and 9^th Bns Royal Fusiliers and 7^th Bn Royal Sussex Regt). These battalions lost 300 men to artillery fire. Despite these setbacks, three lines of German trenches were captured. During the night the 8^th Bn South Lancs advanced and linked the two brigades.

Contalmaison

Contalmaison is a village 1500 yards east of La Boiselle. Two divisions (23^rd and 19^th) attacked in the area of Contalmaison on July 7th.

23rd Division

23^rd Div attacked with two brigades, 24 Bde whose objective was Contalmaison itself and 68 Bde which was to capture Bailiff Wood to the south of the village.

24 Bde left the start line in Shelter Wood at 10am with 1^st Bn, Worcesters and 2^nd Bn, East Lancs in front. The Worcesters entered the village and then had to repel two counter-attacks in half an hour. Eventually the Germans regained control of Contalmaison and the Worcesters consolidated just outside the village.

The East Lancs on lower ground made no progress in the face of machine gun fire and a rain storm.

11^th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers in 68 Bde reached Bailiff Wood but were driven back 400 yards where they linked up with 19^th Div.

19th Division

The division’s objectives were some trenches running between Bailiff Wood and La Boiselle. Two battalions led the assault, 9^th Bn Welsh Regt and 7^th Bn, King’s Own. The attack was delayed by 15 minutes and started at 8.15 am behind a creeping barrage. The reason for this was that the attacking troops had to move over 300m of open ground to reach the objective. Close to the enemy positions a mix up in timings caused the infantry to move into their own bombardment, causing some losses and inevitable disorganisation. The two battalions re-orged, were reinforced by 6^th Bn, Royal Wiltshires and the enemy positions were taken and consolidated with further reinforcement by 9^th Bn Royal Welsh Fusiliers and 56^th MG Coy.

Mametz Wood

The 38^th (Welsh) Div, which had relieved 7^th Div on the 5^th, launched it’s attack on Mametz Wood. The attack began at 8.30am with 115 Bde advancing north west from the line Caterpillar Wood-Marlboro Wood. 16^th Bn, Welsh Regt and 11^th Bn, South Wales Borderers were held up by machine gun fire. Another attempt was made at 10.15am reinforced by 10^th Bn, South Wales Borderers but the attack was again halted by machine gun fire 250 yards from the objective. The Bde then withdrew back to the start line.

The 17^th Div with three battalions assaulted two German trenches south of the village OF Contalmaison, between it and Mametz Wood. 9^th Bn, Northumberland Fusiliers and the right flank of 10^th Bn, Lancashire Fusiliers (both 52 Bde) were held up by their own bombardment falling short. Then finding the barbed wire intact they were forced to retire. Some Lancashire Fusiliers took Pearl Alley trench and entered Contalmaison but were driven back by a German attack at 7am. 52 Bde tried again at 8am with 12^th Bn, Manchester Regt and 9^th Bn, Duke of Wellington’s Regt attacking Quadrangle Support. The German attack had delayed their starting and their barrage had lifted so the attack failed due to heavy MG fire from Mametz Wood.

On the right, 50 Bde of 17^th Div attacked the west side of Mametz Wood but were driven back with heavy losses. Another attempt was made at 8pm, this time by 51 Bde. This attack was again driven back with the Bde suffering 400 casualties.

A plan for a further attack during the night by 17^th Div on Contalmaison was abandoned.

[Groundhog]

Saturday 8th July 1916. Day 8

Ovillers
12^th Div continued offensive operations. 36 Bde had been reinforced by two battalions overnight (7^th Bn, East Surreys and 9^th Bn, Essex Regt). At 3.45am the brigade tried to bomb forward but was hampered by mud. Mud was becoming a problem as it had rained during three days of the previous week. After heavy fighting the brigade advanced 200 yards into the ruined village. From MashValley meanwhile, 2^nd Royal Irish Rifles and 13^th Bn Cheshire Regt of 74 Bde and 8^th South Lancs of 75 Bde advanced into the village, turned right and captured a trench near the church. At 8pm 74 Bde renewed it’s attack. A company of Lancashire Fusiliers advanced too far and found themselves under bombardment from their own artillery. Despite this they held and consolidated their 600 yard gain with the help of the Royal Irish and Cheshires.

32^nd Div relieved 12^th Div after dark.

Contalmaison
23^rd Div with 1^st Worcesters and 2^nd Northamptons made another unsuccessful attack on Contalmaison.

19^th Div meanwhile had to fight off a German attack at 6pm and were then ordered to take an enemy trench south of Ovillers in support of 12^th Div’s attack on the village.

Mametz Wood

The 38^th (Welsh) Div, made another attempt on Mametz Wood in the early morning from the south west. 14th Royal Welsh Fusiliers was stopped by mud and barbed wire before reaching the start line.

Battalions of 17^th Div meanwhile spent fourteen hours fighting their way towards the wood from the west. 50 and 51 Bde bombers attempted to advance from Quadrangle Trench and Pearl Alley at 6am. Little progress was made in the face of determined German defence and knee deep mud and a halt was called at 10am.

An attempt was made to co-ordinate 17^th Divs attack with the assault on Contalmaison further north but this failed to materialise and at 5.50pm after a half hour bombardment 7^th Green Howards and 6^th Dorstes were sent in again with little success.

At 9pm a company of the Dorsets managed to capture two-thirds of Wood Trench and dig a communication trench back to the rear.

Trones Wood

Marked on British maps as Trones Wood, this wood is the Bois de Troncs. The first attack on this wood was made on July 8^th. XIII Corps artillery as well as that of 30^th Div bombarded the wood while 18^th Div artillery bombarded the village of Longueval. The woods in this area were dense, mature timber and the bombardments would cause endless problems for the attacking infantry by creating piled timber obstacles in the line of attack.

The aerial photo below (again from www.westernfrontassociation.com )is a continuation more or less left of the previous one of Mametz wood. The front line comes from the right, north of Bernafay Wood then swings sharply south around the wood. Here the frontline trench was known as Dublin Alley, incidentally. On the map reproduced on July 1^st Bernafay and Trones wood are the two unnamed ones east of Montauban with Bernafay on the left and Trones on the right. Just south of Trones Wood is Maltz Horn Farm.



9^th Div began the attack on Trones Wood from Bernafay Wood at 8am. This attack failed so an attempt was made to bomb their way down Trones Alley trench, which approximately followed the tree line linking the two woods in the photo. Again this failed. After another unsuccessful direct assault the Green Howards were withdrawn and 30^th Div committed.

30^th Div began it’s action at 1pm with a company attack by 2^nd Wiltshires from south of Bernafay wood at La Briqueterie to Maltz Horn Trench. Here they repulsed a German counter-attack and were reinforced by a company of the 19^th Bn Manchester Regt. The remainder of the Wiltshires meanwhile advanced and entrenched on the south east edge of Trones Wood. Here they were reinforced by two companies of 18^th Bn Kings Regt, another of 19^th Bn Manchester Regt and the 18^th Manchesters.

[Groundhog]

Sunday 9th July 1916. Day 9


Ovillers

14 Bde, 32^nd Div continued the fighting on the west side of Ovillers with little result. The same applied to 25^th Div south of the village.

Contalmaison

23^rd Div attempted to improve it’s positions south and west of Contalmaison. Patrols of 12^th Bn, Durham Light Infantry entered Bailiff Wood, a small copse south east of the village but were forced back by their own artillery. A two company assault on the wood at 6pm was delayed by a German attack. However at 8pm they advanced and occupied the wood and trenches either side of it.


Mametz Wood


For his failure to capture Mametz Wood the Divisional Commander of 38^th Welsh Div, Maj-Gen. I. Philipps, was sacked.

A two battalion attack by 17^th Div was launched on Quadrangle Support Trench at 11.20 pm. 7^th Bn Green Howards and 8^th Bn South Staffords were supported by the bombers of 7^th Lincolns. The attack failed despite the Staffords reaching the objective at a loss of 219 men. With no flank support they were forced to withdraw.

Trones Wood

At 3am 2^nd Royal Scots Fusiliers of 30^th Div successfully bombed their way along the remainder of Maltz Horn Trench from Maltz Horn Farm to the Trones Wood-Guillemont track.

At the same time a 17^th Manchesters attack into the wood was delayed by a German gas attack. When they did commence the attack at 6am they were held up by the density of the wood and by fallen timber. Despite this they reached the eastern end of the wood, linking up with the Scots Fusiliers at 8am, and sent patrols to the northern end of the wood. A massive German bombardment at noon forced a withdrawal by the 17^th Manchesters. The 18^th Manchesters (bar one company)were driven back from their positions at the south east edge of the wood and the Royal Scots Fusiliers were forced back along Maltz Horn Trench to the boundary of Trones Wood where they blocked the trench. This company and the Scots were left to drive back a big German attack on the wood at 3pm. An attack by 16^th Manchesters at 7pm regained the ground south west of Trones Wood where they dug in.

[Groundhog]

Monday 10th July 1916. Day 10

Ovillers
25^th Div was still plugging away at Ovillers. 11^th Bn, Cheshire Regt made a frontal attack on the village. 8^th Bn, Loyal North Lancs tried to fight around the rear of Ovillers from the treet>Albert-Bapaume Roadtreet> making little headway and fighting off German counter attacks. 2^nd Bn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers attacked from the tate>north westtate> with a little success.

Contalmaison

The 8^th and 9^th Bns of the Green Howards, 23^rd Div, finally captured Contalmaison at 4.30pm after a 2000 yard advance under heavy fire. In conjunction with them, two companies of the 11^th Bn West Yorkshire Regt made a flank attack from Bailiff Wood. They caught the retreating Germans from the side. The 10^th Duke of Wellington’s, 11^th West Yorks and 101^st Field Coy, RE consolidated with the Green Howards in Contalmaison.

With Contalmaison captured, 17^th Div began to clear trenches south towards Mametz Wood. 51 Bde bombed their way from a sunken road east of the village into Quadrangle Support Trench. 50 Bde bombed along Strip Trench into Wood Support, clearing it after hand to hand fighting and linking up with 38^th Div in Mametz Wood.

Mametz Wood



38^th Welsh Div committed the four battalions of 114 Bde (10^th,13^th , 14^th and 15^th Bns Welsh Regt) to an attack from south of the wood at 4.15am following a 45 minute bombardment. 14^th and 16^th Bns Royal Welsh Fusiliers (113 Bde) were in support. 114 Bde pushed into the wood as far as the first ride and dug in.

At 6.15am the advance continued as far as the second ride. From here followed a day of indecisive fighting with attempts to clear a area called the Hammerhead projecting from the eastern edge of the wood and Quadrangle Alley. 13^th Bn Royal Welsh Fusiliers began fighting along Wood Suport Trench at 2.30 pm and linked up with 50 Bde fighting down from Contalmaison.

At 4.30pm the 10^th Bn South Wales Borderers, 14^th and 15^th Bns Welsh Regt were sent to clear the Hammerhead. By 6.30pm Mametz Wood was cleared to within 40 yards of the northern edge where progress was halted by MG fire from beyond the wood. The Welsh consolidated 200 yards from the edge of the wood.


Trones Wood

30^th Div continued fighting in Trones Wood assisted by one company from 4^th South African Regt (9^th Div). There was fighting in Central Trench in Trones Wood and in Longueval Alley North East of Bernafay Wood but by 8am the Germans had driven the British back and reoccupied Trones Wood.

[Groundhog]

Tuesday 11th July 1916. Day 11

Mametz Wood

More fighting by 115 Bde of 38^th Division. 10^th, 15^th and 16^th Bns, the Welsh Regt and 15^th Bn South Wales Borderers were ordered to clear the remainder of the wood. Only the 16^th Welsh encountered major opposition from MG fire and flamethrowers. The line was fixed 60 yards from the northern edge of the wood until a German bombardment at night forced a withdrawal.

It was 38^th (Welsh) Div’s last day in Mametz Wood and it’s last day in action for a year. In five days the division had lost 4000 men, about one-third of it’s strength.

Trones Wood

In 30^th Div 89 Bde relieved 90 Bde in the line at 1am. At 3.30am 20^th Bn The King’s Regt began to bomb it’s way along Maltz Horn Trench. 2^nd Bn, Bedfordshire Regt meanwhile began an advance on the wood itself from the south west. The Bedford’s two right hand companies occupied the south east edge of the wood under MG fire while the two left hand companies entered the wood between Trones Alley and the railway. At noon the Germans had cleared the north end of the wood again. At 10.30pm 17^th Bn The King’s Regt attacked from the sunken road near La Briqueterie, reached the south east edge of the wood where they dug in and put up barbed wire.

[Groundhog]

Wednesday 12th July 1916. Day 12

Ovillers
10^th Bn Cheshire Regt, 8^th Bn Border Regt and 2/5^th Bn Lancashire Regt attacked Ovillers from the south and south east. Meanwhile 96 Bde attacked from the west making some progress.

Mametz Wood

62 Bde of 21^st Div had relieved the remnants of 38^th Div overnight. Patrols from the Green Howards and Northumberland Fusiliers found the wood deserted. They consolidated and linked up with 1^st Div on their left and 7^th Div on the right.

Trones Wood

17^th Bn The King’s Regt and 2^nd Bn, Bedfordshire Regt linked up in Trones Wood. At 8.30 pm a German attack was beaten off.