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Guillemont 1, Somme day 65


Engagement/Skirmish Name : Guillemont 1, Somme day 65

Date(s) : 03 September 1916

Part of : First World War , The Western Front , The Battle of the Somme ,

Outcome : A victory for British & Allied Forces over German Forces

Type of battle : Land

Summary

Troops of the Fourth Army [XIV, XV & III Corps], the Reserve Army [Anzac, II & V Corps] plus a French regiment were involved in this three day battle. Significant gains were made at considerable cost. e.g. On the first day the Kings Own Scottish Borderers lost three-quarters of its men as casualties.

More details

The objective was the strongly defended village of Guillemont. Action from south of the village to northwest of the village by troops of the Fourth Army and the Reserve Army.
On the extreme right of the line the French supporting attack was stopped by machine-gun fire.
Next to them were troops of
XIV Corps. 5th Division from 0850hrs onwards throughout the day attacks went forwards. Enormous losses were suffered and at the end of the day a loop of trench works near Wedge Wood had been taken and consolidated. The 20th Division's first waves went in so close to the end of the British barrage that the Germans were caught by surprise. Significant gains were made and by 1300hrs most of the village had been taken and troops were consolidating their positions. In the early afternoon the second objective, the line of the Wedge Wood - Ginchy road was taken. Two heavy counter-attacks were repelled with small arms and Lewis gun fire.
XV Corps. The 7th Division after an hours bombardment again attempted to clear the Germans from the southeastern corner of Delville Wood. They were unsuccessful. Other troops penetrated to the other side of the village of Ginchy. While consolidating the east and southeastern edges they were heavily counter-attacked and driven all the way back to their start line. The 24th Division failed to reach any of its objectives in Tea Trench and Wood Lane.
III Corps. The 1st Division had objectives in Wood Lane and High Wood. After fierce fighting most of their objectives were taken. But equally determined German counter-attacks, before the British had consolidated, drove most of the British back to their start line. Those troops who had held on in isolated pockets withdrew after nightfall.
Anzac Corps. The 1st Australian Division were successful in repeated efforts to capture Fabeck Graben and Mouquet Farm. A German barrage and counter-attack recovered Mouquet Farm but 300yards of Fabeck Graben was held.
II Corps. The 25th Division attacked from Hindenburg Trench at 0520hrs. They managed to attain their objectives but could not consolidate and were forced to withdraw. The 49th Division troops attacked following a heavy bombardment which included the use of gas. Much of the German front line was taken and some troops managed to reach the support line. Heavy counter-attacks forced a comp[lete withdrawal to their start line.
V Corps. The 39th Division also attacked just after 0500hrs following a heavy bombardment. They gained their objectives but their position was precarious and by nightfall all units had withdrawn to their start lines.