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Acknowledgements
Writing this book was always going to be a challenge that required considerable time and application. All told, it consumed two years of my life, which capped off several more filled with background research, reading, preparation and visits to battlefields, archives, libraries and museums.
Were it not for my understanding wife, Lara Schönberger, this book would surely not have been completed. She kept me organised, fed and watered throughout, and provided support and encouragement to keep this sometimes-delinquent writer on track. Not once did she complain when I had to disappear off to my study for hours on end or travel to some place in the name of research. I owe her so much more than these few lines can ever express.
Innumerable files and thousands of dusty pages were pored over — I learned to take an antihistamine before visiting National Archives in London. The British Library’s stack was invaluable, so, too, the amazing collection of books at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS). The University of Leeds’ Special Collections department was of great assistance. The South Wales Borderers Museum, Hampshire Records Office, Churchill Archive and the Royal Engineers Museum were professional and obliging.
German material was sourced from a variety of places. Württemberg Landesbibliothek in Stuttgart and Badische Landesbibliothek in Karlsruhe retain collections invaluable to the military historian. Most of the German photographs were found in private collections. Rare or obscure German regimental histories were acquired from antique bookshops, or from my friend Patrick Schallert, who has an amazing library. I have but a smattering of schoolboy German and so I retained the essential services of three skilled translators, all of whom were talented in working with old-German handwriting.
Dr Jack Sheldon, author and leading international authority on the German army in the First World War, critiqued the draft manuscript and suggested a number of changes and additions for the better. Dr Matthias Strohn, a senior lecturer at RMAS, offered advice and favourable comment on my German-specific chapters.
This book, perhaps most importantly, was in part written on the Somme battlefields, including in the stifling heat of summer and the brolly-bashing winds of autumn and winter. So it was that I trekked around Gommecourt, Serre, Beaumont Hamel, Thiepval, Ovillers, La Boisselle, Fricourt, Mametz and Montauban, and many places in between. Along the way I met people from all over the world, among them military historians, battlefield guides, the families of several soldiers, and plenty of others.
With me always were a camera and notepad, a flask of hot tea and a ham-and-cheese baguette. Top-notch battlefield guide Pete Smith, who shares my interest in First World War military history, has world-class knowledge of the Somme and the land on which 1 July was fought out. Many times we struck out to walk the old battle lines and piece together events from 1916. Sara Azzopardi must have despaired as her partner Pete and I talked shop, sometimes for hours on end. Sara and Pete’s hospitality and friendship made the lot of this sometimes-exhausted Somme traveller much happier and more productive.
My good friend and colleague Dr Christopher Pugsley, not long retired as a senior lecturer at RMAS, offered sound advice throughout amid a busy publishing schedule of his own. He helped me thrash out more than a few tactical conundrums, offered encouragement from the outset, as he had done with both my previous books, and never shied from objectively criticising my work. This book is much the better for this guidance. In fact, I owe much to Chris for supporting my career as a military historian for more than 25 years.
Professor Peter Simkins, Honorary Professor of Western Front Studies at the University of Wolverhampton and President of the Western Front Association, kindly read the manuscript and offered critical comment and advice for which it is very much the better. His scholarship relating to the Somme, Kitchener’s Army and, more generally, the British army on the Western Front is essential reading for all military historians, and particularly the emerging generation of which I am part.
Others who appraised the manuscript included first-day-of-the Somme expert and author Bill MacCormick. Bill and I not only debated the Somme, but also the UK general elections and the quality rugby outfit that is the All Blacks. Fellow author and battlefield guide Martin Pegler cast a discerning and critical eye over my efforts, as did Marty Pelling, a not-long-retired regimental sergeant major of the Royal Marines. Marty and I spent numerous hours walking the ground between Ovillers and Montauban following the course of battle, deconstructing the German defensive positions and machine-gun fields of fire of that day. I would also like to thank a presently serving army officer, who did not wish to be named here, who discussed then-and-now defensive machine-gun tactics and accompanied me to the
battlefields several times.
Professor Glyn Harper, Massey University, supported the project from start to finish, and offered constructive criticism on the draft. This, too, applied to Major-General Mungo Melvin, now retired from the British army, whose knowledge of German defensive doctrine and tactics in the First World War proved most useful. A nod of thanks must go also to Dave Stow, an expert on the 10th West Yorkshires at Fricourt, who kindly appraised that part of my manuscript. My good friend and former newsroom colleague Frank Prenesti cast an objective journalist’s eye over the manuscript and suggested a number of ‘pars’ for the proverbial spike and areas of the manuscript that could otherwise be improved upon.
Several people at HarperCollins were integral in bringing this book to publication. Publishing Director Shona Martyn first spied this book’s potential and set the wheels in motion for it to happen. The company’s New Zealand publisher, Finlay Macdonald (no relation to the author), accompanied me on the two-year writing journey with patience, humour and sound advice. This pastoral care is essential in big, long-running writing projects and I greatly value his contribution. Senior Editor Scott Forbes was efficient in shepherding this book through the production process, and his patient attention to fine detail is greatly appreciated. Copy editor Emma Dowden is to be commended for working through the manuscript carefully and posing several tough questions on content, all of which resulted in improvements.
Finally, I must thank veterans of 1 July, whether British, German or Newfoundland, for recording their experiences at the time and, often, years later. Without them, and the numerous people who assisted in this essential work over the decades, our understanding of the 1914–18 war would be much the worse.
Andrew Macdonald
Index of Military Units
The pagination of this electronic edition does not match the edition from which it was created. To locate a specific entry, please use your e-book reader’s search tools.
BRITISH MILITARY UNITS AND FORMATIONS
General Headquarters (GHQ) xii, xiii; planning 15, 27, 31, 34–36; preparations 48, 57, 67; on 1 July 146, 325; assessed 360, 362–63, 377
Armies
First Army 10, 19
Second Army 15, 34
Third Army viii, xii, xiii, xvi, xvii; planning 20, 28–29; preparations 41–42, 48–49, 63, 88; in bombardment 131; on 1 July 324–26, 352; assessed 360, 366, 369, 386, 389; casualties 360
Fourth Army Viii, xii–xiii, xvi–xviii; planning 1, 15–17, 19–20, 24–26, 28–29, 31–33, 36–37; preparations 41–42, 47–49, 53, 57, 61–63, 66–67, 88; in bombardment 110, 114, 122–23, 125, 128–29, 131–32, 136; on 1 July 145, 175, 234, 249–50, 284, 286, 288, 316, 318, 325, 328, 356–57; assessed 359–60, 362–63, 366, 369–71, 373–74, 376–79, 386, 389; casualties 47, 360, 379
Reserve Army viii, xvi; planning 31, 33, 36; in bombardment 136; on 1 July 214, 284; assessed 361, 363, 371–72, 377–79, 387
Army Corps
I Corps 19
II Corps xii, 362, 377–78
III Corps xii, xvi–xvii; planning 36–37; preparations 41–42, 48, 63; in bombardment 114, 123, 125–26, 128; on 1 July 199, 211–12, 214–15, 217, 219, 226, 229, 241, 243–44, 255, 268–69, 278–79; assessed 361, 365, 368, 370–72, 373, 377–78; casualties 244
IV Corps 16, 19
VII Corps xii, xvi–xvii; preparations 42, 47, 49; in bombardment 110, 126; on 1 July 255, 321, 324, 326–29, 332, 335, 338, 351–52, 354–57; assessed 361–62, 365, 368; casualties 356
VIII Corps xii, xvi, xvii; planning 36; preparations 41–42, 66, 72; in bombardment 114, 118, 125–26, 128, 131–32, 135–36; on 1 July 140–41, 143–48, 156, 160–61, 164–66, 170–71, 175–76, 199, 326, 342, 352, 354–57; assessed 365, 370, 372–73, 378; casualties 175–76
X Corps xii, xvi–xvii; planning 36–37; preparations 41–42, 72; in bombardment 112, 125–26, 128; on 1 July 161, 167, 171, 177–78, 180–81, 188, 194–197, 205–206, 209, 255; assessed 361–62, 365, 368, 371–73, 377–79; casualties 205
XIII Corps xii, xvi–xvii; preparations 41–42, 72; in bombardment 112, 123, 125–26, 128, 131; on 1 July 233, 244, 252, 268–69, 273, 279, 283, 286–91, 300, 312–14, 316–19; assessed 361, 365–66, 368, 370–71, 373–75, 378; casualties 319
XV Corps xii, xvi, xvii; planning 36–37; preparations 41–42, 48, 65, 72, 125–26; in bombardment 128, 131; on 1 July 221, 231, 233, 244, 246–47, 252–55, 274, 279–80, 316; assessed 361, 365–66, 368, 370–74, 378; casualties 280–81
Infantry Divisions
New Zealand Division vii
3rd Division 16, 261
4th Division 16, 126; on 1 July 143, 145, 148, 152–53, 155, 157, 161–63, 165, 168–69, 171, 324; assessed 368, 371, 373, 383; casualties 155
7th Division 53; on 1 July 251, 253, 255, 261–63, 267–68, 271–74, 279; assessed 367–69; casualties 280
8th Division 53, 68, 83; on 1 July 214–15, 219, 233–34, 241–42, 244; assessed 367–68, 377; casualties 242
9th (Scottish) Division 289, 317, 372, 374
12th (Eastern) Division 362, 377–78
17th (Northern) Division 36, 250–51, 270, 278, 372
18th (Eastern) Division 68; on 1 July 123, 283, 288–89, 292, 294–95, 299, 301, 304, 304, 310–13, 318–19; assessed 367–69, 371, 374; casualties 313
19th (Western) 36, 53, 69, 214, 232, 241, 372
21st Division: on 1 July 244, 251, 253–55, 257, 259–60, 267–68, 275, 279–80; assessed 367–68; casualties 280
23rd Division 362, 378
25th Division 362, 377–78
27th Division 324
29th Division 53, 126; on 1 July 143, 145–46, 148–52, 159, 161–62, 165, 168, 171–72, 188, 362; assessed 367–69; casualties 151
30th Division: on 1 July 283, 288–92, 296, 299–300, 307, 309, 312–13, 316, 319; assessed 367–68, 371–72, 374–75; casualties 300
31st Division 53, 126; on 1 July 143, 145, 148, 153, 156–59, 161–62, 166, 171–72; assessed 362, 367, 371; casualties 157
32nd Division 53, 60; on 1 July 178, 181–83, 185–86, 197, 199–200, 205, 238; assessed 367, 371, 373; casualties 205
34th Division 53, 83; on 1 July 214–15, 220, 224, 226, 231–32, 244; assessed 367, 369; casualties 232
36th (Ulster) Division 44, 53; on 1 July 167, 181, 187–91, 194, 196–206, 208, 243, 315; assessed 368, 370, 373–74, 383; casualties 205
37th Division 329, 357
38th (Welsh) Division 250, 362, 378
46th (North Midland) Division: on 1 July 326–28, 330, 338, 341–43, 350–56; assessed 362, 368; casualties 354
48th (South Midland) Division 53, 152, 165, 329, 332, 372
49th (West Riding) Division 36, 196–99, 201, 205–206, 372, 374; casualties 205
56th (1st London) Division: on 1 July 327–31, 334–39, 341–43, 350–53; assessed 357, 368; casualties 342
Infantry Brigades
Rifle Brigade 169
2nd Brigade 16
7th Brigade 61, 70
10th Brigade 162–63, 165–66
11th Brigade 152–54, 162, 164
12th Brigade 162–63
14th Brigade 183–85
20th Brigade 261–62, 268, 273, 280
21st Brigade 290–94
22nd Brigade 271, 273
23rd Brigade 215, 235–36, 241
25th Brigade 215, 217, 235–37, 241
50th Brigade 118, 251–52, 255–56, 267, 269–70, 279–80
51st Brigade 270
53rd Brigade 302, 304, 306, 308–310, 312
54th Brigade 302–304, 308, 310, 312
55th Brigade 306–309 312–313
56th Brigade 241
62nd Brigade 259, 276
63rd Brigade 65, 251, 258, 276
64th Brigade 251, 257–60, 275–76
68th Brigade 59, 117
70th Brigade 215, 238–41
86th Brigade 149, 151, 167
87th Brigade 149–51
88th Brigade 164–65
90th Brigade 294–95, 309
91st Brigade 262, 265, 268–69, 272
92nd Brigade 166
93rd Brigade 156–58, 166
94th Brigade 148, 156–58, 166, 171
96th Brigade 182–83, 185–86, 199
97th Brigade 70, 182–84, 199
101st Brigade 215, 220–22, 226, 231–32, 244
102nd Brigade 215, 220, 226, 228–30, 232
103rd Brigade 215, 220–21, 230–32
104th Brigade 325
107th Brigade 188, 190–92, 197, 199–200, 203, 206
108th Brigade 187–90, 200, 208
109th Brigade 188–90, 192, 200, 204
137th Brigade 343–47, 350–52
138th Brigade 352
139th Brigade 343, 346–52
143rd Brigade 152–53, 162
146th Brigade 197–98, 201–204
147th Brigade 197
148th Brigade 197, 201–202, 204
167th Brigade 332
168th Brigade 331–33, 339
169th Brigade 331, 333, 335, 338–39
Infantry, Pioneer Battalions
2nd Bedford 43, 290, 318; casualties 318
7th Bedford 43, 301–303, 310; casualties 302
1st Border 150–51; casualties 150
2nd Border 263, 265, 273; casualties 263
11th Border 183–84; casualties 183
7th Buffs (East Kent) 301–302, 306–307, 309, 367; casualties 306
1/5th Cheshire 331–32; casualties 331
Coldstream Guards 16
2nd Devon 235–37; casualties 235
8th Devon 263, 273; casualties 263
9th Devon 40, 71, 117, 263–65, 273; casualties 263
1st Dorset 183–84; casualties 183
2nd Duke of Wellington’s 163; casualties 163
15th Durham Light Infantry 258, 261, 275; casualties 258
18th Durham Light Infantry 61, 157, 159–60; casualties 157
1st East Lancashire 152–53, 155; casualties 153
11th East Lancashire 40, 157–58; casualties 157
8th East Surrey 68, 301, 306–309; casualties 306
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