Page 17 - History of War - Issue 30-16

THE SOMME: 1916-2016

3 16THIRISHTAKEGINCHY-
GINCHY, 9 SEPTEMBER 1916
After a preliminary bombardment by British artillery, the 16th Irish Division
began the attack on the German-held village of Ginchy in the afternoon of 9
September. Despite losing a large number of oficers, the 16th Division took
the village and held it, before the frontline was shortly pushed forward again
during the Battle of Flers-Courcelette.

Wounded soldiers lie awaiting
evacuation via horse-drawn
ambulance after ighting near Ginchy

TANK CHARGE AT FLERS
& COURCELETTE
15 SEPTEMBER 1916

ADVANCE ON LE TRANSLOY
1 OCTOBER 1916

4 PUSHINGUPTOMORVAL
MORVAL, 25-28 SEPTEMBER 1916
After the success of Flers-Courcelette, a series of successful small Anglo-
French operations captured the villages of Lesboeufs, Gueudecourt and
Morval, which had already been largely destroyed by the battle. On 28
BAZENTIN RIDGE 4 September, the French line on the extreme right of the British front was
OFFENSIVE extended in preparation for an attack on Sailly-Saillisel.
13 JULY 1916
5 STRUGGLEFORTHEHEIGHTS
THIEPVAL RIDGE, 1 OCTOBER – 10 NOVEMBER 1916
Three enemy strong points, along the high ground of Thiepval Ridge, prevented
the British from making further advances in the Autumn: the Schwaben
Redoubt, Stuff Redoubt and the Regina Trench. All these positions had
withstood attacks since July, but were inally overwhelmed by 10 November, in
preparation for a inal push along the Ancre tribute.
DELVILLE WOOD CAPTURED
09 SEPTEMBER 1916

Troops positioned near
the Ancre enjoy a hot
meal, October 1916

6 LASTASSAULTALONGTHEANCRE Images: Alamy, FreeVectorMaps.com, Getty
ANCRE, 13-18 NOVEMBER 1916
At 5.45am, amid heavy artillery and thick fog, the Fifth Army attacked along
the Somme’s tributary towards Serre, Beaumont-Hamel and St Pierre Divion.
The latter two objectives were taken, at great cost and in worsening weather
conditions, and all operations were called off on 18 November.

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