The Somme Offensive
1st July- 18th November 1916
“141 Days of Horror”
Named “141 Days of Horror”, the Somme Offensive was one of the largest battles of WW1 in which more than 1,200,000 men were wounded or killed, making it one of the bloodiest battles in human history. On the first day alone, the British had suffered 60,000 casualties, of whom 20,000 were dead: their largest single loss, which to this day remains a one day record. Sixty per cent of all officers involved on the first day were killed.
1st July- 18th November 1916
“141 Days of Horror”
Named “141 Days of Horror”, the Somme Offensive was one of the largest battles of WW1 in which more than 1,200,000 men were wounded or killed, making it one of the bloodiest battles in human history. On the first day alone, the British had suffered 60,000 casualties, of whom 20,000 were dead: their largest single loss, which to this day remains a one day record. Sixty per cent of all officers involved on the first day were killed.
Since early January 1916, Haig was preparing for a British offensive but in June came under strong pressure to mount a counter attack at Verdun, which was under siege by the German Army from 21st February until 18th December 1916. Haig was therefore forced to undertake an offensive near to where the British and French lines met, near Bray-sur-Somme in Picardy, although he would have preferred to attack further north and to have had longer with which to prepare his new army.
The British Commander, General Haig, planned an offensive on the Somme that was designed to break through the German trench lines and open up a drive on Berlin that would end the war in 2 weeks. Intended to be a decisive breakthrough, the Battle of the Somme instead became a byword for futile and indiscriminate slaughter, with General Haig's tactics remaining controversial even today.
The British Commander, General Haig, planned an offensive on the Somme that was designed to break through the German trench lines and open up a drive on Berlin that would end the war in 2 weeks. Intended to be a decisive breakthrough, the Battle of the Somme instead became a byword for futile and indiscriminate slaughter, with General Haig's tactics remaining controversial even today.
The attack was launched upon a 30 kilometre front, from north of the Somme river between Arras and Albert, and ran from 1 July until 18 November, at which point it was called off due to the worsening weather conditions. With winter closing in, the fight was suspended. Haig deemed the soldiers had done enough and resolved to resume the offensive in February. In March 1917, the Germans made a strategic retreat to the Hindenburg line rather than face the resumption of the Battle of the Somme.
The French were anxious for it to begin as they were under heavy pressure from a major German offensive at Verdun, which had started February 1916. The Somme Offensive would, it was expected, force the Germans to withdraw some troops from Verdun, thus easing the pressure on the French there.
This didn't happen - the Somme Offensive was contained with locally available reserves and the Germans didn't move any troops from Verdun to help defend against the Somme Offensive. So the German reaction to the Somme Offensive was to contain the British attack without giving up too much ground.
This didn't happen - the Somme Offensive was contained with locally available reserves and the Germans didn't move any troops from Verdun to help defend against the Somme Offensive. So the German reaction to the Somme Offensive was to contain the British attack without giving up too much ground.
British commanders were so confident that they ordered their troops to walk slowly towards the German lines. Once they had been seized, cavalry units would pour through to pursue the fleeing Germans. As the 11 British divisions walked towards the German lines, the machine guns started and the slaughter began. Although a few units managed to reach German trenches, they could not exploit their gains and were driven back. By the end of the day, the British had suffered 60,000 casualties, of whom 20,000 were dead: their largest single loss which to this day remains a one day record.
Sixty per cent of all officers involved on the first day were killed.
Sixty per cent of all officers involved on the first day were killed.
The British offensive was a disastrous failure. After more than 4 months, the British had gained a strip of land 20 miles long and at its furthest penetration 7 miles deep. There was no breakthrough and British casualties were around 420,000.
It was a baptism of fire for Britain's new volunteer armies. Many 'Pals' Battalions, comprising men from the same town, had enlisted together to serve together. They suffered catastrophic losses: whole units died together and for weeks after the initial assault, local newspapers would be filled with lists of dead, wounded and missing.
The next two months saw bloody stalemate, with the Allies gaining little ground
It was a baptism of fire for Britain's new volunteer armies. Many 'Pals' Battalions, comprising men from the same town, had enlisted together to serve together. They suffered catastrophic losses: whole units died together and for weeks after the initial assault, local newspapers would be filled with lists of dead, wounded and missing.
The next two months saw bloody stalemate, with the Allies gaining little ground
Torrential rains in October turned the battlegrounds into a muddy quagmire and in mid-November the battle ended, with the Allies having advanced only 8km (five miles). Only in the sense of relieving the French at Verdun can the British have claimed any measure of success.
The British (this includes Commonwealth soldiers, a breakdown listed below) suffered around 420,000 casualties, the French/Belgian 204,000 casualties and the Germans around. 500,000 casualties
The Somme offensive saw the first Canadian troops at the front. The British force included the commonwealth armies of the Australian Imperial Force, South African 1st Infantry Brigade incorporating a Southern Rhodesian contingent, Canadian Corps, New Zealand Division and Newfoundland, with a total allied casualty list of over 600,000 men. (Casualty Figures have not been included as they tend to vary from report to report).
The Somme offensive saw the first Canadian troops at the front. The British force included the commonwealth armies of the Australian Imperial Force, South African 1st Infantry Brigade incorporating a Southern Rhodesian contingent, Canadian Corps, New Zealand Division and Newfoundland, with a total allied casualty list of over 600,000 men. (Casualty Figures have not been included as they tend to vary from report to report).
The Somme Offensive was noted for the first tanks being used at the ‘front’. On 15th September 1916, during the Battle of Fleurs Courselette, tanks, known as ‘Mark 1’, were in battle for the first time. This first batch of tanks was hot, noisy and unwieldly and suffered mechanical malfunctions on the battlefield. Out of 48, only 21 made it to the front. Nevertheless, people realised the tanks potential. 100 years later, the tank has altered beyond all recognition, but the basic principles of firepower, protection and mobility remain unchanged.
The Battle of the Somme had several phases - Albert, 1st -13th July; Gommecourt 1st July; Bazentin Ridge, 14th – 17th July; Fromelles, 19th -20th July; High Wood, 20th – 25th July; Delville Wood, 15th July – 3rd September; Pozieres, 23rd July – 3rd September; Guillemont, 3rd – 6th September; Ginchy, 9th September; Flers-Courcelette, 15th – 22nd September; Morval, 25th – 28th September; Thiepval, 26th – 28th September; Le Transloy, 1st – 18th October; Ancre Heights, 1st October – 11th November; Ancre, 13th – 18th November.
(Those highlighted in red are where Queensferry and Dalmeny men lost their lives).
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(Those highlighted in red are where Queensferry and Dalmeny men lost their lives).
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The following men are listed on Queensferry and Dalmeny memorials. They lost their lives during the Somme Offensive.
Queensferry and Dalmeny lost 15 men during the Somme Offensive.
Lance Corporal James Beveridge, Royal Scots, -18.7.1916 aged 29, most likely during the Battle of Delville Wood, (15th July – 3rd September 1916).
Private John Sanderson, Royal Scots – 22.7.1916 aged 30, most likely during the Battle of Delville Wood, (15th July – 3rd September 1916).
Guardsman Ralph Lawson, Scots Guards – 26.7.1916, aged 22, most likely during the Battle of Delville Wood, (15th July – 3rd September 1916.)
Private Charles Watson, Royal Scots – 3.9.1916 aged 18, most likely during the Battle of Delville Wood, (15th July – 3rd September 1916).
Lance Sergeant George James Stewart, Canadian Infantry – 7.8.1916 aged 37, most likely during the Battle of Pozieres, (23rd July – 3rd September 1916).
Private Charles Sandercombe, Royal Scots – 18.8.1916, aged 20, most likely during the Battle of Pozieres, (23rd July – 3rd September 1916).
Private Patrick Connolly, Royal Scots – 21.8.1916 aged 21, most likely during the Battle of Pozieres, (23rd July – 3rd September 1916).
Private Peter Smith, Royal Dublin Fusiliers -8.9.1916, aged 38, most likely during the Battle of Guillemont (3rd – 6th September 1916).
Private James Lapsley, Middlesex Regiment – 15.9.1916, aged 35, most likely during the Battle of Flers Courcelette, (15th –22nd September 1916).
Sergeant David Mackintosh, Canadian Infantry – 15.9.1916 aged 23, most likely during the Battle of Flers Courcelette, (15th –22nd September 1916).
Private James Scott, Highland Light Infantry – 16.9.1916 aged 22, most likely during the Battle of Flers Courcelette, (15th –22nd September 1916).
2nd Corporal James Davidson, Royal Engineers – 24.9.1916 aged 26, died of wounds received on 20.9.1916, during the Battle of Flers Courcelette, (15th –22nd September 1916).
Private George Charles Earl, Royal Scots – 23.10.1916 aged 33, most likely during the Battle of Le Transloy, (1st October – 11th November 1916).
Corporal George Thomson Stewart, Royal Engineers – 9.11.1916 aged 19. Most likely during the Battle of Le Transloy, (1st October – 11th November 1916).
Private Hugh MacDairmid, Cameron Highlanders – 22.11.1916 aged 27, most likely from wounds sustained during the Battle of Le Transloy, (1st October – 11th November 1916).
Lance Corporal James Beveridge, Royal Scots, -18.7.1916 aged 29, most likely during the Battle of Delville Wood, (15th July – 3rd September 1916).
Private John Sanderson, Royal Scots – 22.7.1916 aged 30, most likely during the Battle of Delville Wood, (15th July – 3rd September 1916).
Guardsman Ralph Lawson, Scots Guards – 26.7.1916, aged 22, most likely during the Battle of Delville Wood, (15th July – 3rd September 1916.)
Private Charles Watson, Royal Scots – 3.9.1916 aged 18, most likely during the Battle of Delville Wood, (15th July – 3rd September 1916).
Lance Sergeant George James Stewart, Canadian Infantry – 7.8.1916 aged 37, most likely during the Battle of Pozieres, (23rd July – 3rd September 1916).
Private Charles Sandercombe, Royal Scots – 18.8.1916, aged 20, most likely during the Battle of Pozieres, (23rd July – 3rd September 1916).
Private Patrick Connolly, Royal Scots – 21.8.1916 aged 21, most likely during the Battle of Pozieres, (23rd July – 3rd September 1916).
Private Peter Smith, Royal Dublin Fusiliers -8.9.1916, aged 38, most likely during the Battle of Guillemont (3rd – 6th September 1916).
Private James Lapsley, Middlesex Regiment – 15.9.1916, aged 35, most likely during the Battle of Flers Courcelette, (15th –22nd September 1916).
Sergeant David Mackintosh, Canadian Infantry – 15.9.1916 aged 23, most likely during the Battle of Flers Courcelette, (15th –22nd September 1916).
Private James Scott, Highland Light Infantry – 16.9.1916 aged 22, most likely during the Battle of Flers Courcelette, (15th –22nd September 1916).
2nd Corporal James Davidson, Royal Engineers – 24.9.1916 aged 26, died of wounds received on 20.9.1916, during the Battle of Flers Courcelette, (15th –22nd September 1916).
Private George Charles Earl, Royal Scots – 23.10.1916 aged 33, most likely during the Battle of Le Transloy, (1st October – 11th November 1916).
Corporal George Thomson Stewart, Royal Engineers – 9.11.1916 aged 19. Most likely during the Battle of Le Transloy, (1st October – 11th November 1916).
Private Hugh MacDairmid, Cameron Highlanders – 22.11.1916 aged 27, most likely from wounds sustained during the Battle of Le Transloy, (1st October – 11th November 1916).
Find out more about the men in Archive - February 2015, under 'Memorials'.
Also in our queesferry-at-war website, link below
Also in our queesferry-at-war website, link below
© Queensferry History Group 2016