100 Years Ago - July 1, 1916

[Gregvan]

We should all stop and take a moment to remember...

This actually came up in my Google news feed this morning. Rather unusual, edged in between all the junk about Trump, the Brexit, the Kardashians and etc...But then, the Royals were involved.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-36674451

A pivotal point in WWI, and the worst day in the history of the British Army, I believe. The Battle of the Somme would also see great advancements made in the impact of aerial warfare on the conflict on the ground, with a maximum effort and resurgence of the RFC. Of course, the Somme would also see the introduction of the Jagdstaffeln, and contribute to the epic legend of Boelcke and begin the tale of MvR's victories.

[Stug50]

A very poignant day here in Britain.
At 7:28 this morning, Britain held a two minute silence, this was followed at 7:30am by a loud shrill of whistles which indicated that it was the exact time 100 years ago that the 19,240 British soldiers left their trenches and walked out into no mans land never to return.



We will remember them.

[Kilian]

I was remembered by all the postings on fb from my british friends. Sadly not many people in Germany seem to show any interest.

Lest we forget.

[MASTIFF]

I guess the 19 thousand-odd "British" casualties would include those lost from the Newfoundland Regiment. After their ordeal at Gallipoli, the Regiment was thrown into the Somme at Beaumont Hamel.

The Newfoundlanders were the third wave to go over the top. But because the first two attacks were shot to pieces, they had to advance from the reserve trenches, since the first two trench lines were clogged with dead and wounded. And in accordance with Haig's idiotic order, they advanced "at a walk".

Eight hundred men walked toward uncut wire and entrenched machine guns. It is recorded that by day's end sixty eight answered roll call.

[Graham Broad]

Originally Posted by MASTIFF

I guess the 19 thousand-odd "British" casualties would include those lost from the Newfoundland Regiment. After their ordeal at Gallipoli, the Regiment was thrown into the Somme at Beaumont Hamel.

The Newfoundlanders were the third wave to go over the top. But because the first two attacks were shot to pieces, they had to advance from the reserve trenches, since the first two trench lines were clogged with dead and wounded. And in accordance with Haig's idiotic order, they advanced "at a walk".

Eight hundred men walked toward uncut wire and entrenched machine guns. It is recorded that by day's end sixty eight answered roll call.

It does include the Newfoundlanders who, like the Canadians, were British.

The tactical problem at Beaumont Hamel is most obvious when one stands today on what was the German line. Of course, the entire 4th Army was advancing uphill, but it's particularly pronounced there.

While most Canadians today celebrate Canada Day, in Newfoundland this is both a day of mourning and celebration.

[Graham Broad]

Originally Posted by Kilian

I was remembered by all the postings on fb from my british friends. Sadly not many people in Germany seem to show any interest.

Lest we forget.

It's curious, because the Somme Battle as a whole took an enormous toll in German lives, too: probably about equal to what the British lost.

[MikeMeech]

Originally Posted by MASTIFF

I guess the 19 thousand-odd "British" casualties would include those lost from the Newfoundland Regiment. After their ordeal at Gallipoli, the Regiment was thrown into the Somme at Beaumont Hamel.

The Newfoundlanders were the third wave to go over the top. But because the first two attacks were shot to pieces, they had to advance from the reserve trenches, since the first two trench lines were clogged with dead and wounded. And in accordance with Haig's idiotic order, they advanced "at a walk".

Eight hundred men walked toward uncut wire and entrenched machine guns. It is recorded that by day's end sixty eight answered roll call.

Hi

'Myths' of the air war are still around as are 'myths' of the ground war. We of course 'know' all the soldiers walked laden with heavy loads, sadly they are not true. The full analysis of what units actually done on the first day are available. Prior and Wilson in 'The Somme' (2005 although being reprinted this year) page 115 has the following:

"In summary, for the 80 battalions that went over the top in the first attack on 1 July, 53 crept out into no man's land close to the German wire before zero and then rushed the German line, while ten others rushed the line from their own parapet. This leaves just 17 battalions, 12 of which advanced at a steady pace and five for which no evidence exists.
There is a further complicating factor here. At least some of the battalions who walked across no man's land at a steady pace did so because they were following a creeping barrage. These were some of the most successful units of all on the first day."

Also the precise infantry and artillery tactics used by units on the day was up to the Corps and Divisional commanders not Haig, they were the men on the spot. Indeed some veterans interviewed in the 1960s do mention units 'running' towards German lines, so the information has been out there from various sources not only documents.

By the way 5 RFC flyers were killed on the first day.

Mike

[Graham Broad]

Originally Posted by MikeMeech

Hi

'Myths' of the air war are still around as are 'myths' of the ground war. We of course 'know' all the soldiers walked laden with heavy loads, sadly they are not true. The full analysis of what units actually done on the first day are available. Prior and Wilson in 'The Somme' (2005 although being reprinted this year) page 115 has the following:

"In summary, for the 80 battalions that went over the top in the first attack on 1 July, 53 crept out into no man's land close to the German wire before zero and then rushed the German line, while ten others rushed the line from their own parapet. This leaves just 17 battalions, 12 of which advanced at a steady pace and five for which no evidence exists.
There is a further complicating factor here. At least some of the battalions who walked across no man's land at a steady pace did so because they were following a creeping barrage. These were some of the most successful units of all on the first day."

Also the precise infantry and artillery tactics used by units on the day was up to the Corps and Divisional commanders not Haig, they were the men on the spot. Indeed some veterans interviewed in the 1960s do mention units 'running' towards German lines, so the information has been out there from various sources not only documents.

By the way 5 RFC flyers were killed on the first day.

Mike

Yup. Haig and Rawlinson were dealing with tactical and operational problems of enormous, even unprecedented, complexity. A very fine work, Three Armies on the Somme by Philpott discusses these problems in great detail, along with the complexities of the political and strategic situation, too. Too easy to condemn in retrospect, like people do with RFC training or tactics. (Having said that, I think some recent work has gone a bit too far in trying to rehabilitate Haig.)

Edit: Have you read this one, Mike? You seem to have read most stuff! Curious to know what you thought.

[MASTIFF]

Originally Posted by Graham Broad

The tactical problem at Beaumont Hamel is most obvious when one stands today on what was the German line. Of course, the entire 4th Army was advancing uphill, but it's particularly pronounced there.

The Newfoundlanders were initially on the back slope of a slight rise, in the support trenches and out of sight of the German defenders.

They crested the rise behind the British first line and were silhouetted against the skyline as they moved downhill, presenting perfect targets to the German machine gunners.

[MikeMeech]

Originally Posted by Graham Broad

Yup. Haig and Rawlinson were dealing with tactical and operational problems of enormous, even unprecedented, complexity. A very fine work, Three Armies on the Somme by Philpott discusses these problems in great detail, along with the complexities of the political and strategic situation, too. Too easy to condemn in retrospect, like people do with RFC training or tactics. (Having said that, I think some recent work has gone a bit too far in trying to rehabilitate Haig.)

Edit: Have you read this one, Mike? You seem to have read most stuff! Curious to know what you thought.

Hi

'Three Armies on the Somme' is the American title I think for Philpot's 'Bloody Victory - The Sacrifice on the Somme', as it is known in the UK. It is some years since I have read it, but I recall I thought it was quite good and also deals with the French operations.
I have read quite a few books over decades and more recently I have been reading for my own research on air/ground operations during WW1, so I am 'looking' for certain things rather than just reading the book for interest, the air war cannot be separated from the ground war if we are to understand it correctly. Many general books tend to pass over the connection between the ground and air and are rather light on 'detail', despite that 'detail' being quite important to the troops on the ground at the time.

Mike