Page 16 - History of War - Issue 30-16

SOMME
1916 2016

OF
STAGESTHE
CAMPAIGN DIVERSION AT GOMMECOURT

1 JULY 1916

The British and French lines crept forward
for nearly ive months

1 PRELIMINARYBOMBARDMENT
GERMAN FRONTLINE, 24-30 JUNE 1916 Below: Members of MINE AT HAWTHORN RIDGE
the Royal Garrison
For seven days, over 1.7 million shells are ired onto the German Artillery prepare 1 JULY 1916
the fuses of
positions in an attempt to obliterate the wire and destroy any
Howitzer shells in
signiicant defences. However, the shells fail to make any signiicant preparation for the
impact on the sturdy German bunkers, dug deep into the chalk ground. bombardment

6
5

BATTLE OF THIEPVAL RIDGE
26 SEPTEMBER 1916

2 BATTLEOFPOZIÈRES ATTACK ON
MAMETZ WOOD
POZIÈRES, 19 JULY-7 AUGUST 1916 LOCHNAGAR MINE 14 JULY 1916
After capturing over half of the village on 23 July, the Australian 1st Division 1 JULY 1916
was relentlessly bombarded by German artillery and was forced to fend of Below: The MAMETZ TAKEN
numerous counterattacks. Four days later, the division was relieved having memorial 1 JULY 1916
dedicated to the
suffered over 5,200 casualties. The Australian 2nd Division took over and
1st Australian
made further assaults to push the enemy out of Pozières, but suffered over Division,
6,800 casualties from bombardments and counterattacks. Pozières, France
‘TRIPLE TAMBOUR’ MINES
1 JULY 1916

“1.7 MILLION SHELLS ARE FIRED

ONTO THE GERMAN POSITIONS, IN AN
ATTEMPT TO OBLITERATE THE WIRE AND

DESTROY ANY SIGNIFICANT DEFENCES”

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