In 1916 the general plan was to relieve pressure from the Russian Front and for the British to use their swelling man power to relieve the French, who had suffered greatly both in personnel and morale in the battles around Verdun. The British relieved the whole of the French Tenth Army. A long battle of attrition resulted on the Somme, involving very heavy losses under increasingly difficult conditions. The German armies also suffered greatly in this battle.
The Regiment in France was increased by the following battalions raised in 1915:
Lieut.-Colonel E. F. Ward
Lieut.-Colonel G. A. G. Soltau-Simmonds
(Pioneer)Lieut.-Colonel F. Murray
Lieut.-Colonel The Earl of Feversham (Yorkshire Hussars
The 19th, 22nd, 23rd and 24th Reserve Battalions were formed in 1916, but they soon lost their identity in the General Training Reserve. The earlier part of the year was employed by all units in trench warfare with many minor operations to keep up the offensive spirit.
The Battle Of The Somme - 1st July to 15th November
The Somme battle opened on 1st July. Fourteen battalions of the Regiment were ultimately engaged in it. The major actions are summarized as follows:
High Wood, 6th July
The 16th Battalion fought well in their first action, involving a 1,000-yard advance over the open. Exposed flanks prevented complete success. Lieutenant-Colonel L. F. Wyld was wounded.
This action gained the battle honour ALBERT, 1916. In a further action fought on 16th July the 16th Battalion and one company of 20th Bn. the 20th Battalion gained the honour BAZENTIN.
Losses: Officers: killed 7, wounded 8; Other Ranks: not recorded.
1st Battalion. 7th July. Sergeant Albert Gill, awarded the Victoria Cross.
2nd Battalion, Poziers, 23rd July
The 2nd Battalion took part in the attack. They gained their first objective, but had to retire owing to failure of units on both flanks. Lieutenant-Colonel H. F. W. Bircham, D.S.O., was killed.
Losses: Officers: killed 5, wounded 2, missing 1; Other Ranks: 196
1st Battalion, Delville Wood, 27th July
The 1st Battalion took its objective and repelled a German counter-attack, receiving congratulations from the Commander-in-Chief and Army Commander.
Losses: Offcers: killed 6, wounded 7; Other Ranks: 308.
12th Battalion. 16th August. Sergeant E. Cooper was awarded the Victoria Cross.
7th Battalion, Delville Wood, 18th August
The 7th Battalion took all objectives north-west of the wood and held them against counter-attacks.
Losses: Officers: killed 3, wounded 4; Other Ranks: 210.
2nd Battalion, High Wood, 20th August
The 2nd Battalion in heavy defensive fighting.
Losses: Officers: killed 3, wounded 3; Other Ranks: 131
8th Battalion, Delville Wood, 21st August
The 8th Battalion attack failed owing to the barrage starting behind them and lifting to behind the enemy.
Delville Wood, 24th/25th August>
The 8th Battalion's second attack again frustrated by poor artillery support.
Losses: Officers: killed 2, wounded 2; Other Ranks: about 150
9th Battalion. Same Occasion.
The 9th Battalion cleared the wood, capturing 9 German officers and 159 other ranks.
Losses: Officers: killed 7, wounded 4; Other Ranks: 277
16th Battalion, Tea Trench, 24th August
The 16th Battalion carried all objectives, well supported by artillery.
Losses: Officers: killed 1, wounded 2; Other Ranks: 124
10th and 11th Battalions, Guillemont, 3rd September
After German attacks had been repelled by the 11th Battalion, the 10th Battalion took a major part in the capture of Guillemont, supported by the 11th Battalion. This fortress had resisted many attacks for a month. A break-through resulted and heavy losses were inflicted on the enemy. This success was unfortunately not followed up with reserves. Lieutenant-Colonel C. A. Blacklock, 10th Battalion, and Lieutenant-Colonel J. F. R. Hope, 11th Battalion, were wounded.
Losses in the Two Battalions: Officers: killed 4, wounded 16; Other Ranks: about 400
River Ancre, 3rd September
The 17th Battalion attacked east of the river and after some initial success were repulsed.
High Wood, 9th September
The 2nd Battalion took and held all objectives in an attack in the wood.
Losses: Officers: killed 2, wounded 6; Other Ranks:142
Courcelette, 15th/16th September
The 7th, 8th and 9th Battalions were all engaged in II Corps attack, in which British 7'an' 8 tanks were used for the first time. Of forty tanks engaged only twenty-four passed our front line. Their moral effect was great and they were invaluable in destroying machine-gun nests. The loss of surprise by their use on such a small scale was unfortunate. Enfilade machine-gun fire caused many casualties to our 9th Battalion. The first and second objectives were successfully captured and held. Lieutenant-Colonel E. W. Benson, M.C., 9th Battalion, was killed.
Losses of the three battalions: Officers: killed 7, wounded 27; Other Ranks: 782
The 18th and 21st Battalions also attacked with the 122nd and 124th Brigades, next on the left to the 14th (Light) Division. At the very start of the attack the 18th Battalion lost their Commanding Officer, Adjutant, Signalling and Trench Mortar Officers by one shell. All objectives were taken, although in the night a slight withdrawal was made to the east of Flers by the 21st Battalion. Both Battalions fought well and the advance was the longest so far made in the Somme fighting. Both Commanding Officers, Lieutenant-Colonel C. P. Marten (West Yorkshire Regiment), - 18th Battalion, and Lieutenant-Colonel The Earl of Feversham, 21st Battalion, were killed.
Losses of the two battalions.—Officers: killed 11, wounded 17; other ranks: 726
Les Boeufs, 17th September
The 11th Battalion were given an 11th impossible task on false information and with negligible artillery support. Their objective near Les Boeufs was at right angles to the line they had just taken over. They reached the enemy's trenches, but had to withdraw owing to the failure of other units to advance.
Losses: Officers: killed 1, wounded 5; Other Ranks: 107
Morval, 25th to 27th September
The 2nd Battalion took part in 2nd 1 five bombing attacks in three days. The Rhodesian Platoon (No. 8) distinguished themselves.
Guedecourt, 7th October
The 12th Battalion attacked east of Guedecourt with two companies and had some success.
Losses: Officers: wounded 3; Other Ranks: 107
Schwaben Redoubt, 14th and 20th October
The 17th Battalion made an attack on the Schwaben Redoubt on 14th October and repelled two counter-attacks using flammenwerfers on 20th October. In the two days, they captured 5 German officers and 250 other ranks.
Losses: Officers: killed 2, wounded 3; Other Ranks: 114
The battle honour LE TRANSLOY denotes the action at Guedecourt and the first action at the Schwaben Redoubt described above.
Ancre Heights, 5th November
The 16th Battalion here delivered a successful attack on Hazy Trench.
Losses: Officers: killed 1, wounded 3; Other Ranks: 163
Ancre, 13th/14th November
The 13th Battalion were ordered to reinforce the 189th Brigade near Beaucourt. They quickly bombed the enemy out and extended the line to the left of that Brigade by 8 a.m. On the 14th they took the village, the dug-outs being full of Germans. The Battalion dug in finally on the far edge of the village.
Losses: Officers: killed 2, wounded7; Other Ranks: about 350
1st Battalion, Beaumont Hamel, 14th November
The 1st Battalion took part in a rather confused night attack on Munich Trench. An enemy trench was occupied, but the objective was not taken. The Battalion dug in north-east of Beaumont Hamel.
End of the 1916 Campaign
In the middle of November the long and costly Battle of the Somme came to an end. It had been a four and a half months' struggle with a tenacious and better-equipped enemy holding well-prepared fortifications. In the later stages it was a struggle against mud. Battalions were often in the line for long periods of great strain. Trenches were frequently obliterated and whole sections of men buried. When staff work was good, limited success was always attained. Effort was frequently dissipated in small and costly attacks which were easily countered by enemy machine-gun fire. Too often little time was given for preparation and reconnaissance. Accurate maps were not always available.
The German losses were, however, considerable and it was claimed that the efforts and sacrifices of the British Army on this bloody field saved the French Army from utter defeat and prevented the invasion of Russia—no small contribution to the eventual victory of the Allies.
Early in December Marshal Joffre was relieved of the command of the French armies. He was succeeded by General Nivelle.
It has been possible in this chapter to refer only to the more important operations in which battalions of our Regiment were engaged. In the whole of the Somme battle the Regiment lost a total of about 200 officers and 4,000 men. The New Army battalions had well maintained the traditions of the Regiment.
