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The Battle of the Somme 1916 (with the 50th Div)

 

Captain Albert Edward Odell, MC and Bar.   1886-1979.

 

 

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BATTLE OF THE SOMME:   MAMETZ WOOD

     The first participation was by the Divisional Artillery who relieved the 34th Divisional Artillery on 19th August, the Division as a whole not taking over the line until 10th September from the 15th Division near Bazentin-le-Petit. The part it played in the various Somme battles is summarised below.

15^th  to 22^nd Sept 1916…Battle of Flers-Courcelette (III Corps, Fourth Army)

    The Division was to attack with the 47th Division on the right and the 15th Division on the left; the assault, to be made in three bounds (first objective) Hook Trench from north-west of High Wood to just south-east of Martinpuich; (second objective) Martin trench, The Bow and a portion of the Starfish Line; (third objective) Prue Trench and the left of the Starfish Line; these three objectives, respectively, were the Brown, Green and Blue Lines.

     This was the first battle in which a "creeping barrage" was used. The Division suffered heavy casualties. 150 Brigade reached its final objective and 149 Brigade reached its first and second objectives, but all were driven back and the attack not completely successful for a week. However, the Divisional effort in the initial assault did allow the flank Divisions, the 15th and 47th, to reach their objectives, although the 50th Division was not named in the official despatch.

Attack begins with the  149^th Infantry Brigade at Mametz

Wood/Bazentin Le Petit Quarry. (east of Millencourt).    Front Line lay just below the ridge

from Martinpuich to High Wood.

15th Sept to 14th Nov 1916

Captain Francis Buckley of the 7th N.F. was working for Brigade as an observer, and did many drawings of the sections of front line that they found themselves on. This particular one was published in Buckley's book Q6a and other places.

     The Division had very little action as it had already occupied its objectives by patrols.

     At this time 8 DLI and 5 Border were so week that they had to be amalgamated, and 4 NF and 5 NF were attached to 151 Brigade for the attack.. They captured initial objectives during the night withpout heavy losses. Lt Col. R. B. Bradford, CO 9 DLI, was awarded the VC.

The Division was relieved by the 23rd Division on 4th October, worn out, but the artillery stayed in the line. However, they were back again South East of Le Sars on 25th October relieving the 9th Division.

50^th Div relieved and 149^th moved to Albert via Becourt.    BHQ at doctors House in Albert

HOOK SAP

Returned to the Front Line, taking over from 1^st Div in ruined sugar factory at Bazentin Le Grand. Front line extending for two miles along a ridge, from the Butte de Warlencourt due East, to Loupart Wood. Enemy front line comprised of two trenches-GIRD Line and GIRD Support- with a forward trench on top of the ridge called, on the left ‘Butte Trench’, and on the right ‘Hook Sap’.  Our  front line, ‘Snag Trench’ and ‘Maxwell Trench’, lay 200 yards on this side.

The Somme offensive. Attack on The Butte de Warlencourt, in support of   larger operation around Beaumont Hamel.

Butte de Warlencourt, 5th November. A noteable day in the history of the DLI, and a memorial was erected on the Butte, the wooden cross afterwards being moved to  the DLI Chapel in Durham Cathedral. 151 Brigade led the attack; 9 DLI captured the "Butte" but were driven off; numerous attacks and counter attacks were mounted; heavy casualties were suffered and all to no avail.

Go To attack on The Butte de Warlencourt by 151 Brigade on 5th November 1916

On 14th November 149 Brigade attacked the Butte area again and although initially successful were driven back. Five days later the Division went into III Corps reserve for a well earned rest.

Goto Detailed acount of the Attack on Hook Sap by 149 Brigade on 14th November 1916

 

The   50^th Division of III Corps and the 1^st ANZAC Corps attacked the GIRD line between Bapaume Road/ Fricourt Farm/Rutherford Alley and High Wood. The 151st Infantry Brigade with 2 Battalions of the 149th attached carried out the attack. (4^th and 6^th N.F.)

5^th NF in reserve, Four companies in Flers Switch

7^th NF in reserve, Two companies in Prue Trench Two companies in Starfish          East of Rutherford Alley

The 149^th Infantry Brigade relieved the 150^th in the line, with advanced Brigade HQ at Seven Elms

(one mile from front line) Rear HQ at Sugar Factory.

At Dawn the 149^th Infantry Brigade attacked the Hook Sap, GIRD Line and Butte Trench. The 5^thN.F. on

the right and 7th N.F. on the left opposite the sap. at: M18a3.1-M18a 0.3  M17a3.3-M17a7.0

Through mud and suffering heavy casualties, survivors of two companies of the 7^th N.F. gained a footing in Hook Sap. 5^th N.F. took the GIRD Line.

    Fighting in GIRD line still in progress. Nothing more was heard of the two companies in Hook Sap. It is believed that they perished to the last man , overwhelmed by successive German counter-attacks. The 5^th N.F. did well and held their ground, however, due to the exposed position it eventually had to be abandoned.

Goto Detailed acount of the Attack on Hook Sap

     The Division were training  near Baizieux till after Christmas, although the artillery spent a period on relief duties. Back into the line on the 1st January 1917, they handed over to the 1st Australian Division on the 28th, and were back in again on 16th February, this time south of the Somme having taken over from the French divisions. The next relief was by the 59th Division and on 9th March the Division moved into reserve at Avesnes, 10 miles west of Arras. It was filthy weather most of the time --- rain, snow and frost.

Left half of 149^th relieved by A Brig of 48^th Division, and moved to Peake Wood. BHQ moved to a billet in (Villa Rochers) Albert.

Brigade billeted at the small village of Bresle, in training and re-equipping. 447 fresh men went through the recruits bombing course.

50th Division held the line south of Le Barque and Ligny Thilloy

149^th moved from Becourt to Bazentin le Petit and High Wood and relieved 4 Battalions of the 1^stand 3^rd Infantry Brigades. (1st Division)

149^th moved from Bazentin and High Wood to front system of trenches at:

M17/1 to M17/3. Relieving 1^st and 3^rd Infantry Brigades, in trenches running eastwards from a point south of the Butte de Warlencourt in front of Belloy and Estrees.  On completion of relief, GOC 149^th assumed command of the whole front. BHQ in dugouts at ‘Cough Drop’ 1mile N of  High Wood.

At Fricourt Farm

2^nd Lieut.   A.E. Odell Off Commanding No 2 Section awarded Military Cross.

‘This part of the line was quiet and our stay was uneventful’

During the night of 11^th/12^th Feb the 4^th N.F. (149^th Inf Brig) relieved one Battalion 123^rd Regiment, 35^th French Division in support at Belloy Taking over part of the line won by the French this side of Peronne  BHQ at P.C Hedevaux (‘Post Commandant Hedevaux)

The 5^th and 7^th N.F. relieved the 144^th and 249^th Regiments in the front line (HQ at P.C.Buelow. (N25d6.4 map 1/40,000 sheet 62c and 62d))

Ribemont

P.C.Gabrielle

HQ moved from Ribemont to P.C.Gabrielle and Proyart. During the night of 13^th/14^th Feb the 149^th handed over to 2^nd Inf Brig 1^st Division, that portion of the line North and exclusive of the Estrees-Villers-Carbronnel Road.

50^th Div transferred from XVIII Corps to VII Corps. 149^th moved from Wanquetin to Hautville Area, and relieved Inf Brig group in trenches South of Tilloy.

Bert Odell's tunic.

Lapel badge denotes a staff officer

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  Click here for  7th NFshort history of the Regiment,  see personalities and links to detailed acounts of important actions.

Guy Smith     e mail:    guy@trenchmap.com

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