On 11th November the hour for zero-that is, the hour at which the infantry advance begins-was selected as 5.45 A.M. On 10th November it was ordered to take place on 13th November. On 7th November information was wired that the attack was indefinitely postponed. Later, it was again postponed to 9th November, and again to 10th November. On 29th October the date of the attack was changed to 5th November. The first postponement was until 30th October on 25th October a further postponement of forty-eight hours was ordered. "The attack was originally planned for 24th October, but owing to the weather a succession of postponements took place. Quoting from "The History of the Fifty First (Highland) Division 1914-1918" by Major F W Bewsher DSO, MC: The attack had been originally planned for 24 October but because of the appalling weather in particular torrential rain, there were a number of delays until the attack was eventually scheduled for 13 November. There were also intermediate report lines red, blue and purple.Ī pack horse loaded with rubber trench boots (waiders) is led through the mud near Beaumont Hamel on the Somme battlefield, November 1916. To assist in monitoring progress of the attack there were a number of report lines the first objective being green and a second yellow. There was a second valley down which ran the old Beaumont Road. The latter was a heavily fortified ‘Y’ shaped ravine with steep sides running towards the British line. The objective ran from the village of Beaumont Hamel south east to a ‘Y’ ravine. The objective the 51st Highland division was to capture Beaumont Hamel The Vth Corps attack would have the 63rd Division on the right 51st Highland Division and 2nd Division in the centre and the 3rd Division on the left with the 37th Division in reserve. The attack was to be carried out by the Fifth Army with the 2nd Corps South of the River bank and the Vth Corps north of the river. The attack had failed and the heavily fortified area was regarded as almost impregnable. Beaumont Hamel had been attacked on the first day of the Somme. However for the 51st Highland Division it will be remembered as the Battle of Beaumont Hamel. The battle of Ancre took place in November 1916. Shell bursting amongst the barbed wire entanglements on the battlefield at Beaumont Hamel, December 1916
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |