The name of ‘the Somme’ remains a highly-charged and hugely evocative one. The first day on the Somme saw almost 60,000 British casualties and almost 20,000 men killed.
Conceived out of the failure of 1915’s autumn offensives, and pulled forward due to the French struggles at Verdun, the battle was not one the British Generals wanted, but it was the one they got. For a week before the battle the largest British artillery attack to this point of the war pummelled the German trenches, with the belief that this would both destroy the German spirit and break-through the line. It was, however, spread too thinly along the Somme’s battle-front, meaning the effectiveness was diminished. Additionally, deep and reinforced German trenches meant that the artillery attack was not as successful as had been hoped. The enemy had not been destroyed as had been hoped.
Delay due to bad weather
By the morning of the 29 June, the British were prepared to attack with their infantry forces. However the weather had a different idea. Thick mist and heavy rain meant that the effects of artillery were impossible to observe, and the attack was postponed for 48 hours. In the line, west of Ovillers were the 1st Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment, and west of Fricourt were the 6th Dorsets. Both saw significant action on 1 July.
Into the woods
The 1st Dorsets were tasked with attacking the Leipzig Salient, between Theipval and Authuille woods. This was a well-fortified salient and the Germans had the significant advantage of height, looking over the battlefield. On 1 July the 1st Dorsets attacked through Authuille Wood. Initial progress was soon halted by both the German response and the geography of the wood itself. Almost two hours after entering the wood, the Dorsets were able to leave, only to find open field and machine-gun fire. The Regimental History records that this was where ‘half of the total casualties of the day occurred’, and Tim Saunders states that “only one officer and about twenty-five men reached the German trenches” [West Country Regiments on the Somme, p97].
Changing plans
The 6th Dorsets, further south at Fricourt, were involved in the slightly controversial attack on the German-held village. This was a German strong-hold, which had been strengthened as it became more apparent an attack was coming. The 6th Dorsets were held in reserve, and it was not until 4pm they were ordered to relieve the 7th Green Howards and 7th East Yorkshires north of the site of the Tambour mines, directly to the west of Fricourt village. However, their orders quickly changed, and by 5.30pm they had been ordered to attack to consolidate the small gains that had been made earlier in the day. As they moved to the front line, the artillery barrage continued. In the line the soldiers nervously waited for a barrage to finish. Just ten minutes before the attack, these orders changed once more. The 6th Dorsets were spared the attack.
Over the next few days, the 6th Dorsets were charged with holding the line and helping the wounded. In addition, they were tasked with moving supplies and ammunition to the north of Fricourt. By the 6 July, they had been moved to the front-line trenches and were involved in further attacks towards Mametz Wood.
We will remember them
Perhaps remarkably given the figures of 1 July, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission lists the names of 70 men from the Dorsetshire Regiment who were known to have died on that day. These names include Lance Sergeant Arthur Geard, who married had married Annie Hustings of Dorchester before going to France, who is remembered on the Blighty Valley Cemetery, Somme. They also include Private William Membury, of Dorchester who enlisted on 21 August 1914, and was killed in the action of Authuille Wood, aged 32. His grave is at the Lonsdale Cemetery, Authuille. Sergeant-Major Miller wrote of Membury to his parents: “Although your son had a dangerous task to perform he never for a moment shirked from his duty.” A fitting epitaph to any soldier.
A view from the front
We are fortunate to hold the diaries of RSM George Beck, a soldier from Portland who served with the 1st Warwickshire battalion throughout the First World War. Beck’s eye-witness accounts from the front line chronicle the daily struggle in the trenches. Follow @RSM_GBeck on twitter for extracts from the diaries a century after they were written.
Further information about local soldiers during the First World War can be found in Dorchester Remembers the Great War by Brian Bates, and West Country Regiments on the Somme by Tim Saunders. These books are available for reference in our local studies library.