Updated: October 4, 2022 | Original: November 12, 2009. This commemorates 72,000 officers and men who have no known grave. More attacks between 3 and 13 Julyresulted in a further 25,000 casualties. Regiments - Somme Battlefields Regiments British Regiments on the Somme 1916 This part of the site has historical information about regiments of the British Army who fought in the Battle of the Somme in 1916. A school of thought holds that the Battle of the Somme placed unprecedented strain on the German army and that after the battle it was unable to replace casualties like-for-like, which reduced it to a militia. In July 1917, the British and French launched a massive offensive near the Belgian city of Ypres. (South Antrim), Royal Irish Rifles, 14th Bn (Young Citizens), Royal Irish Rifles, 15th Bn, (North Belfast), Royal Irish Rifles, 10th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, 9th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment, 13th Bn, (1st North Wales), Royal Welch Fusiliers, 10th Battalion (1st Rhondda), Welch Regiment, 17th Bn, (2nd North Wales), Royal Welch Fusiliers, 13th Battalion (2nd Rhondda), Welch Regiment, 10th Bn, (1st Gwent), South Wales Borderers, 15th Bn, (1st London Welsh), Royal Welch Fusiliers, 11th Bn, (2nd Gwent), South Wales Borderers, 15th Battalion (Carmarthenshire), Welch Regiment, 19th Battalion (Glamorgan Pioneers), Welsh Regiment, 10th Bn, The Queen's Royal West Surrey Regt, 1/5th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment, 1/6th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment, 1/5th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment, 1/6th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment, Major-General Sir C. St L. Barter (relieved) then Major-General G.K Gorringe, 1/5th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. The Battle of the Somme (French: Bataille de la Somme; German: Schlacht an der Somme), also known as the Somme offensive, was a battle of the First World War fought by the armies of the British Empire and the French Third Republic against the German Empire. British troops during the Battle of the Somme, September 1916. 1/5th Battalion, King's Own Royal Lancaster Regt. Corps Commander: General Paul Maistre, XXX Corps. For many at home, their first glimpse of trench warfare came from Geoffrey Malins's film 'The Battle of the Somme' (1916). HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. The attack was made by four divisions on a front of 6,000yd (5.5km) at 3:25 a.m. after a five-minute hurricane artillery bombardment. Tracing British Battalions on the Somme, British Battalions on the Western Front January to June 1915, Voluntary Infantry, 1880-1908, Kitchener's Army, British Regiments at Gallipoli, British Battalions in France and Belgium 1914, English and Welsh Regiments, The Territorial Battalions, The British Army of August 1914: An Illustrated Directory . 12th Infantry Division Double and triple thickness wire was used and laid 35 feet (0.911.52m) high. [55] A war of attrition was a logical strategy for Britain against Germany, which was also at war with France and Russia. Larger operations resumed in January 1917. 1/5th Battalion, King's Own Royal Lancaster Regt. 9th Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Lt.Inf. The front trenches were on a forward slope, lined by white chalk from the subsoil and easily seen by ground observers. 1/1st Battalionn, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Lt. Inf. Filmed at the start of the battle, it mainly showsreal events, although some scenes were staged for the camera. Private Albert Tattersall served in the 20th Battalion, The Manchester Regiment (5th City Pals).He was wounded on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916, and died two days later on 3 July at a Casualty Clearing Station, aged 23.His personal possessions, including his tobacco pouch, wallet, pocket knife, tin of cigarettes and mirror were sent home. Large regiment - Wikipedia The second position was beyond the range of Allied field artillery, to force an attacker to stop and move field artillery forward before assaulting the position. 5 Things You Need To Know About The Battle Of The Somme 20th Infantry Division Thiepval was finally captured, and in October the British attacked the high ground overlooking Le Transloy and the River Ancre. The warrior woman who saved France Organisational difficulties and deteriorating weather frustrated Joffre's intention to proceed by vigorous co-ordinated attacks by the Anglo-French armies, which became disjointed and declined in effectiveness during late September, at the same time as a revival occurred in the German defence. 1/8th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, 1/4th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment, 1/5th (Cinque Ports) Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, 1/4th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment, 1/4th Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, 1/5th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment, 1/5th Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, 1/6th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment, 1/7th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment, 3rd Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment (replaced by 19th Bn. First World War The strategic objective of a breakthrough was not achieved but the tactical gains were considerable, the front line being advanced by 2,5003,500 yards (2,3003,200m) and many casualties were inflicted on the German defenders. 1/4th Battalion, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Lt. Inf. The objectives of the attack were the villages of Bazentin le Petit, Bazentin le Grand and Longueval which was adjacent to Delville Wood, with High Wood on the ridge beyond. Order of battle for the Battle of the Somme - Military Wiki The principal role in the offensive devolved to the British and on 16 June, Haig defined the objectives of the offensive as the relief of pressure on the French at Verdun and the infliction of losses on the Germans. The Royal British Legion and the CWGC remember the battle on 1 July each year at Thiepval Memorial. Early on the morning of July 15, British troops launched another artillery barrage followed by a massive attack, this time on Bazentin Ridge, in the northern part of the Somme. The attack was postponed to combine with attacks by the French Sixth Army on Combles, south of Morval and because of rain. Battle of the Somme casualties and fatalities 1916 | Statista The British captured La Boiselle, Contalmaison and Mametz Wood, and a night attack on 13/14 July broke through the second German defensive position at Bazentin. HISTORY.com works with a wide range of writers and editors to create accurate and informative content. Royal Army Veterinary Corps. 6th Battalion, King's Stropshire Lt. Inf. In typical British county regiments, the 1st and 2nd Battalions were regular army, the 3rd was the special reserve battalion which did not normally serve overseas but remained at home as the regimental depot and training unit, from which replacements were sent to the regular battalions.