It has been decided, on the twenty-fifth day of the Battle of the Somme, that the attacks against High Wood are to end. German soldiers have started a counter-attack in the Longueval and Bazentin areas. Reports suggest that Pozieres is almost entirely in Allied hands. The British soldiers are beginning to push along the Albert-Bapaume road. Meanwhile, Rawlinson has visited Fricourt and on his return described it as a series of craters.
On the twenty-sixth day of the battle, I am pleased to report that the whole of Pozieres village is completely in Allied hands.
Twenty-seven days after the Battle of the Somme, further British attacks have led to the Allies gaining more land at Delville Wood, despite it raining again. Meanwhile, fighting is continuing near Pozieres and Longueval.
Not only has the twenty-eighth day of the battle been an extremely hot day, with a temperature of 59 degrees, but the British have captured Longueval and Delville Wood. Further advances have been made near Pozieres.
Reports are coming through stating that German attempts to retake Delville Wood have failed, whilst Australian attemps to take the windmill near Pozieres have also failed. However, twenty-nine days after the battle began, Muster Alley is still in contention.
I am pleased to report on the thirtieth day of the battle, British soldiers are making progress east of Waterlot Farm and Trones Wood. A German attack against Guillemont has failed again, whilst a large explosion has been reported at Martinpuich.
Not much to report for day thirty-one of the battle. Temperatures are still reaching 59 degrees and the fight is still ongoing for Guillemont.
Remember to come back on the 7th August for the latest news.
Sunday 31 July 2016
Monday 25 July 2016
Lord Kitchener Needs YOU
The outbreak of the First World War saw Lord Kitchener appointed the Secretary of State for War by British Prime Minister Asquith. It was during this role that he predicted a long, hard war and continually tried to voice his opinion even when most of the country were against him. The British people were under the impression that the war would be over by Christmas 1914, yet we all know now that this wasn't the case and that Herbert Kitchener was to be proved right.
Lord Kitchener had vision and drive, for he saw the importance of needing a huge army to stand a chance of defeating Germany and thus winning the war. He was an extremely intelligent man who also realised that this war would be one that would shake Britain to the core. He excepted that Britain would suffer a vast amount of casualties, death and destruction and whilst he may not have wished this to be the case, he knew forward planning was essential to win the war.
At the earliest opportunity, Lord Kitchener started a recruitment campaign, one which would become the face of the First World War, as well as one of the most effective and talked about pieces of propaganda in history. A poster appeared on noticeboards, buildings and in newspapers, depicting Lord Kitchener telling his audience that he needed them to join his army. He would never know it, but he would become one of the most famous men to come out of any war, particularly for this poster. Lord Kitchener cleverly used emotive language to appeal to his audience and promote the cause - it would be a poster that over 100 years later, is being show in schools across the country as a learning tool on many different levels. Even now, parodies based on this original poster spring up across the internet.
At the beginning of the war, Britain was extremely lacking in a trusted land-based army and would have, if it wasn't for Kitchener, tried to fight the war almost solely using sea-power. I believe Lord Kitchener understood wartime and war needs more than the war council gave him credit for. Again, this was proven when plans for the British Expeditionary Force to be deployed in Amiens were unveiled. Kitchener voiced his concerns and argued his case that the small Belgium army, along with the British Expeditionary Force wouldn't be able to hold off attacks made by the German army. As a result, a retreat would have to be made, with weapons and supplies having to be abandoned. A retreat so early into the war would have had devastating consequences to British morale.
The British Expeditionary Force at the time consisted of approximately 100,000 men, many of whom were only reservists. Loss of these trained men during the first few weeks would have more than likely lost us the war well before Christmas 1914. As the war continued, Lord Kitchener fell out with many politicians as well as professional soldiers, with a lot of his ideas being overrided.
But it wasn't just the front line and recruitment of soldiers that Lord Kitchener assisted in, for he also helped on the home front. He encouraged the women of Britain to knit socks for their fighting menfolk that contained the Kitchener stitch. This was a new technique for a seamless join so that the socks wouldn't rub the toes.
Tragically, Herbert Kitchener's life was cut short when the armoured cruiser HMS Hampshire he was travelling on struck a German mine on 5th June, whilst on route to Arkhangelsk in Russian. HMS Hampshire sunk west of the Orkney Islands, Kitchener himself only 65 years old.
After Kitchener's death, the Mayor of London at the time, set up the Lord Kitchener National Memorial Fund which was used to aid casualties of the war, either practically or financially. When the war finally came to an end in 1918, some soldiers, ex-soldiers, their sons and their daughters were able to apply to receive university educations and it was all thanks to the fund set up.
Lord Kitchener had vision and drive, for he saw the importance of needing a huge army to stand a chance of defeating Germany and thus winning the war. He was an extremely intelligent man who also realised that this war would be one that would shake Britain to the core. He excepted that Britain would suffer a vast amount of casualties, death and destruction and whilst he may not have wished this to be the case, he knew forward planning was essential to win the war.
At the earliest opportunity, Lord Kitchener started a recruitment campaign, one which would become the face of the First World War, as well as one of the most effective and talked about pieces of propaganda in history. A poster appeared on noticeboards, buildings and in newspapers, depicting Lord Kitchener telling his audience that he needed them to join his army. He would never know it, but he would become one of the most famous men to come out of any war, particularly for this poster. Lord Kitchener cleverly used emotive language to appeal to his audience and promote the cause - it would be a poster that over 100 years later, is being show in schools across the country as a learning tool on many different levels. Even now, parodies based on this original poster spring up across the internet.
At the beginning of the war, Britain was extremely lacking in a trusted land-based army and would have, if it wasn't for Kitchener, tried to fight the war almost solely using sea-power. I believe Lord Kitchener understood wartime and war needs more than the war council gave him credit for. Again, this was proven when plans for the British Expeditionary Force to be deployed in Amiens were unveiled. Kitchener voiced his concerns and argued his case that the small Belgium army, along with the British Expeditionary Force wouldn't be able to hold off attacks made by the German army. As a result, a retreat would have to be made, with weapons and supplies having to be abandoned. A retreat so early into the war would have had devastating consequences to British morale.
The British Expeditionary Force at the time consisted of approximately 100,000 men, many of whom were only reservists. Loss of these trained men during the first few weeks would have more than likely lost us the war well before Christmas 1914. As the war continued, Lord Kitchener fell out with many politicians as well as professional soldiers, with a lot of his ideas being overrided.
But it wasn't just the front line and recruitment of soldiers that Lord Kitchener assisted in, for he also helped on the home front. He encouraged the women of Britain to knit socks for their fighting menfolk that contained the Kitchener stitch. This was a new technique for a seamless join so that the socks wouldn't rub the toes.
Tragically, Herbert Kitchener's life was cut short when the armoured cruiser HMS Hampshire he was travelling on struck a German mine on 5th June, whilst on route to Arkhangelsk in Russian. HMS Hampshire sunk west of the Orkney Islands, Kitchener himself only 65 years old.
After Kitchener's death, the Mayor of London at the time, set up the Lord Kitchener National Memorial Fund which was used to aid casualties of the war, either practically or financially. When the war finally came to an end in 1918, some soldiers, ex-soldiers, their sons and their daughters were able to apply to receive university educations and it was all thanks to the fund set up.
Sunday 24 July 2016
The Somme News - No. Three
An attack has taken place on this eighteenth day of the Battle of the Somme at Fromelles, which is situated to the north of the Somme battlefield. German soldiers have been making strong counter-attacks at Longueval and Delville Wood all day. Drizzle has been falling all afternoon and soldiers are reportedly feeling exhausted after three weeks of constant fighting.
The nineteenth day of the battle has seen German soldiers attack Longueval, Waterlot Farm and Trones Wood. Fighting in Delville Wood is continuing.
Whilst the attacks by the enemy on Waterlot Farm and Trones Wood were repulsed yesterday, the twentieth day of the battle has seen the fighting continue at both Longueval and Delville Wood.
Reports of fighting at High Wood are filtering through on this twenty-first day of the battle. Haig has also made a visit to Rawlinson, in a bid to make clear how important the need to capture the village of Guillemont is.
Violent fighting on the Pozieres to Guillemont front can be heard on what is now the twenty-second day of the Battle of the Somme. Aerial reconnaissance missions have brought the news that a new German trench line has been dug in front of the switch line to the north west of High Wood.
The second phrase of the Somme battle has begun twenty-three days in, with fierce fighting in and around the village of Pozieres. The British recaptured the whole of Longueval earlier today, but reports are coming in this evening that the northern part of the village has been recaptured by German soldiers.
The twenty-fourth day of the battle has seen fighting continue at Pozieres as well as a German counter attack at both High Wood and Guillemont, despite the high temperature of 55 degrees.
Remember to check back on the 31st July for the latest news.
The nineteenth day of the battle has seen German soldiers attack Longueval, Waterlot Farm and Trones Wood. Fighting in Delville Wood is continuing.
Whilst the attacks by the enemy on Waterlot Farm and Trones Wood were repulsed yesterday, the twentieth day of the battle has seen the fighting continue at both Longueval and Delville Wood.
Reports of fighting at High Wood are filtering through on this twenty-first day of the battle. Haig has also made a visit to Rawlinson, in a bid to make clear how important the need to capture the village of Guillemont is.
Violent fighting on the Pozieres to Guillemont front can be heard on what is now the twenty-second day of the Battle of the Somme. Aerial reconnaissance missions have brought the news that a new German trench line has been dug in front of the switch line to the north west of High Wood.
The second phrase of the Somme battle has begun twenty-three days in, with fierce fighting in and around the village of Pozieres. The British recaptured the whole of Longueval earlier today, but reports are coming in this evening that the northern part of the village has been recaptured by German soldiers.
The twenty-fourth day of the battle has seen fighting continue at Pozieres as well as a German counter attack at both High Wood and Guillemont, despite the high temperature of 55 degrees.
Remember to check back on the 31st July for the latest news.
Sunday 17 July 2016
The Somme News - No. Two
Day 11 has seen a counter attack for Contalmaison held off by Allied soldiers, as fighting continues in both Trones and Mametz Woods.
More counter attacks for Contalmaison have been held off on this 12th day of the battle. Continued fighting has led to the complete recapture of Mametz Wood by Allied soldiers. Officials have been busy finalising plans for an attack, taking place at dawn on the 14th July.
The thirteenth day of the battle has seen soldiers resting and preparing for a rumoured attack at dawn due to take place tomorrow.
At 3.25am on the fourteenth day of the Battle of the Somme, British soldiers could be seen going over the top and attacking the German second line. Despite heavy bombardment, British soldiers have been able to capture Longueval and Bazentin Le Petit as well as the whole of Trones Wood.
The Second Calvary have been sent in to battle, with their objective being the capture of High Wood. No news on this as of sundown.
News has filtered through on the fifteenth day of the battle that the Calvary have not been successful in capturing High Wood. The Battle for Delville has since begun.
The sixteenth day of the battle has seen the rain return. The British have spent the day consolidating their positions and are withdrawing from High Wood.
The seventeenth day and third week of the Battle of the Somme has seen Waterlot Farm, situated to the east of Longueval taken, whilst Ovillers has been completely cleared of German soldiers. The Battle of Bazentin Ridge has come to an end.
Join us on 24th July for the next update.
More counter attacks for Contalmaison have been held off on this 12th day of the battle. Continued fighting has led to the complete recapture of Mametz Wood by Allied soldiers. Officials have been busy finalising plans for an attack, taking place at dawn on the 14th July.
The thirteenth day of the battle has seen soldiers resting and preparing for a rumoured attack at dawn due to take place tomorrow.
At 3.25am on the fourteenth day of the Battle of the Somme, British soldiers could be seen going over the top and attacking the German second line. Despite heavy bombardment, British soldiers have been able to capture Longueval and Bazentin Le Petit as well as the whole of Trones Wood.
The Second Calvary have been sent in to battle, with their objective being the capture of High Wood. No news on this as of sundown.
News has filtered through on the fifteenth day of the battle that the Calvary have not been successful in capturing High Wood. The Battle for Delville has since begun.
The sixteenth day of the battle has seen the rain return. The British have spent the day consolidating their positions and are withdrawing from High Wood.
The seventeenth day and third week of the Battle of the Somme has seen Waterlot Farm, situated to the east of Longueval taken, whilst Ovillers has been completely cleared of German soldiers. The Battle of Bazentin Ridge has come to an end.
Join us on 24th July for the next update.
Sunday 10 July 2016
The Somme News - No. One
As mentioned in the last post, the Battle of the Somme began on the 1st of July with Allied troops attacking a twenty five mile front, both north and south of the Somme. By the end of the first day, the British had been able to capture Montauban and Mametz, whilst the French had reached Hardecourt and Curlu. Reports soon filtered in that the British Army had lost a staggering 18,000 soldiers on the first day.
The second day of the battle has seen German soldiers surrendering at Fricourt - a further step towards victory for the Allied soldiers.
The third day of the Battle of the Somme, has seen rain falling and the ground underfoot becoming very wet. Despite this, La Boisselle & part of Ovillers have been captured by Allied soldiers.
The fourth day has seen more rainfall, making trench life harder to bear. Bernafay Wood was taken by Allied soldiers.
On what is now the fifth day of the battle, Horseshoe Trench has been won. It is reported that a large amount of German soldiers are assembling in Mametz Wood. The next few days are expected to be busy.
Our first setback of the battle so far has been encountered on the sixth day of the battle, with the planned attack on Trones Wood being delayed for twenty four hours. Rain is still falling and soldiers are now both soaking wet and tired.
The seventh day of the Battle of the Somme has seen the capture by Allied soldiers of Contalmaison and Leipzig Redoubt this morning. Heavy rainfall has been experienced all day, making basic things like walking much more difficult. By the evening, the German's have recaptured Contalmaison, meaning that the British Army are unable to get into Mametz Wood.
Despite even more rainfall, British soldiers have been able to penetrate Trones Wood on this eighth day of the battle.
On the ninth day of the battle, a large fire is reported to have broken out at Martinpuich. Fighting has also been continuing at Trones Wood.
The tenth day of the Battle of the Somme has seen the temperature sore to 48 degrees, making soldiers uniforms, already caked in mud, even more stiff and unbearable as the mud dries. Reports of lots of soldiers suffering dehydration is high. Soldiers are still heavily fighting for Mametz Wood.
Join us on the 17th July where the next update will be live.
The second day of the battle has seen German soldiers surrendering at Fricourt - a further step towards victory for the Allied soldiers.
The third day of the Battle of the Somme, has seen rain falling and the ground underfoot becoming very wet. Despite this, La Boisselle & part of Ovillers have been captured by Allied soldiers.
The fourth day has seen more rainfall, making trench life harder to bear. Bernafay Wood was taken by Allied soldiers.
On what is now the fifth day of the battle, Horseshoe Trench has been won. It is reported that a large amount of German soldiers are assembling in Mametz Wood. The next few days are expected to be busy.
Our first setback of the battle so far has been encountered on the sixth day of the battle, with the planned attack on Trones Wood being delayed for twenty four hours. Rain is still falling and soldiers are now both soaking wet and tired.
The seventh day of the Battle of the Somme has seen the capture by Allied soldiers of Contalmaison and Leipzig Redoubt this morning. Heavy rainfall has been experienced all day, making basic things like walking much more difficult. By the evening, the German's have recaptured Contalmaison, meaning that the British Army are unable to get into Mametz Wood.
Despite even more rainfall, British soldiers have been able to penetrate Trones Wood on this eighth day of the battle.
On the ninth day of the battle, a large fire is reported to have broken out at Martinpuich. Fighting has also been continuing at Trones Wood.
The tenth day of the Battle of the Somme has seen the temperature sore to 48 degrees, making soldiers uniforms, already caked in mud, even more stiff and unbearable as the mud dries. Reports of lots of soldiers suffering dehydration is high. Soldiers are still heavily fighting for Mametz Wood.
Join us on the 17th July where the next update will be live.
Friday 1 July 2016
The Somme News
Today marks the 100th anniversary since the Battle of the Somme began. It was to be a battle that would be remembered in history for years to come and would, to some, become the face of the war. Of all the other major battles that took place during the First World War, if you ask someone to name one, the Somme will be the most likely answer.
Over the course of what would have been the Battle of the Somme, The Somme News, will be reporting on what would have taken place each day and will publish this each week right here on this blog. You will hopefully be able to gain an insight into what was taking place when, as well as the conditions the soldiers were living in.
The Battle of the Somme began this morning, on the 1st July 1916 at 7.30am local time. Allied forces began an attack on a twenty five mile front both North & South of the Somme. For the latest news, please join us on the 10th July where we will have an update.
Over the course of what would have been the Battle of the Somme, The Somme News, will be reporting on what would have taken place each day and will publish this each week right here on this blog. You will hopefully be able to gain an insight into what was taking place when, as well as the conditions the soldiers were living in.
The Battle of the Somme began this morning, on the 1st July 1916 at 7.30am local time. Allied forces began an attack on a twenty five mile front both North & South of the Somme. For the latest news, please join us on the 10th July where we will have an update.
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