| Capture of Beaumont-Hamel | |
|---|---|
| Battle of the Somme, 1916 | |
| Date 1 July 13–18 November Location Beaumont-Hamel, France 50°05′02″N 02°39′26″E Result German victory 1 July British victory 13–18 November | |
| Belligerents | |
| British Empire United Kingdom Newfoundland | German Empire |
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How many soldiers died in the Battle of Beaumont-Hamel?
In one morning, the regiment suffered approximately 700 casualties, including more than 300 dead. Trench at Beaumont-Hamel.
When was the Battle of the Somme?
Map of the Battle of the Somme, 1916, during the First World War.
Why did the Newfoundland Regiment move to the Western Front?
In the spring of 1916, after fighting in Gallipoli, Turkey, the Newfoundland Regiment was transferred to the Western Front in France to prepare for the offensive in the Somme valley. The Newfoundlanders were ordered to attack German lines at the village of Beaumont-Hamel, as part of the initial phase of the Battle of the Somme.
What was the name of the battle that led to the death of the Newfoundland Regiment?
On 1 July 1916, Allied forces launched a major offensive in France during the First World War. The opening of the Somme offensive turned into one of the deadliest days in the history of modern warfare. At the village of Beaumont-Hamel, the Newfoundland Regiment suffered catastrophic losses.
How many soldiers died in the Newfoundland Regiment?
Of the approximately 800 soldiers of the Newfoundland Regiment who fought that day, only 68 were able to answer roll call following the battle. The regiment suffered 710 casualties — 386 wounded and 324 who were killed, died of their wounds, or missing (presumed dead).The dead included several sets of brothers.
What battle was the danger tree cut down in?
Dozens of soldiers of the Newfoundland Regiment were cut down here by German machine gun fire, on 1 July 1916, the opening day of the Battle of the Somme. (Richard Foot) The "Danger Tree" at the Beaumont-Hamel battlefield.
When did the Allied forces launch the Somme offensive?
June 29, 2021. On 1 July 1916, Allied forces launched a major offensive in France during the First World War. The opening of the Somme offensive turned into one of the deadliest days in the history of modern warfare. At the village of Beaumont-Hamel, the Newfoundland Regiment suffered catastrophic losses.
What day was the Battle of Beaumont Hamel?
The Regiment's tragic advance at Beaumont Hamel on the morning of July 1, ...
Who published Beaumont Hamel Memorial Park?
Adapted from the self-guided tour to the Beaumont Hamel Memorial Park brochure published by the Department of Veterans Affairs Canada.
What was the Newfoundland Regiment?
The Newfoundland Regiment, still with the 88th Brigade of the 29th Division, received word on February 25, 1916 that it would be part of the Somme offensive. It departed Egypt on March 14, 1916 and arrived at France eight days later. For the next three months, it readied for combat.
Where was the Newfoundland Regiment stationed?
The Newfoundland Regiment was stationed in trenches near the French village of Beaumont Hamel, which lay behind German lines. It was a strategically difficult position. The German front lines were about 300 to 500 metres away, down a grassy slope and heavily guarded by barbed wire entanglements. The German 119th Reserve Regiment, tough and experienced, had turned the natural defences of a deep Y-shaped ravine into one of the strongest positions on the entire Somme front.
What is the day of remembrance in Newfoundland and Labrador?
Today, July 1 remains an official day of remembrance in Newfoundland and Labrador. Every year, people gather at the National War Memorial in downtown St. John's and at other locations across the province to remember the soldiers who fought at Beaumont Hamel, as well as the many other men and women who have served in other forces and other wars.
How long did the Battle of the Somme last?
The battle lasted for almost 10 months and siphoned off many of the French troops originally intended for the Somme offensive. In consequence, the Battle of the Somme became a largely British effort, designed to relieve beleaguered French troops at Verdun, and to cause a decisive breakthrough in the German lines.
Why did the Somme offensive happen?
The Somme offensive had its origins in Anglo-French plans to bring hostilities to a rapid close. At the end of 1915 the war was going badly for the Allies. The Gallipoli campaign had been a failure. The Eastern Front was in disarray and the Western Front was locked in a stalemate.
Why did the Somme offensive happen?
The Somme offensive had its origins in Anglo-French plans to bring hostilities to a rapid close. At the end of 1915, the war was going badly for the Allies. The Gallipoli campaign had been a failure. The Eastern Front was in disarray and the Western Front was locked in a stalemate.
How long did the Newfoundland Regiment march to the front?
On June 30, the 1st Newfoundland Regiment received its order to move to the front, marching some five hours to the trenches at the front line.
Where did Germany march in 1916?
Germany had marched through Belgium and into northern France, where its army was securely entrenched near the River Somme. British and French forces desperately needed a success. Commanders spent the winter of 1916 developing a major offensive to regain control of the Somme.
What was the Newfoundland Regiment?
It was a dominion of the British Empire. Volunteers formed the 1st Newfoundland Regiment, one of the four battalions of the British 29th Division’s 88th Brigade. The Newfoundland Regiment received word on February 25, 1916, that it would be part of the Somme offensive.
What was the Battle of Beaumont-Hamel?
Associated articles. 1914 Christmas truce. The Capture of Beaumont-Hamel was a tactical incident that took place during the Battle of the Somme (1 July – 18 November 1916) in the Battle of the Ancre (13–18 November) during the second British attempt to take the village. Beaumont-Hamel is a commune in the Somme department ...
What division outflanked Beaumont-Hamel?
On 13 November, during the Battle of the Ancre in thick fog, the 51st (Highland) Division outflanked Beaumont-Hamel on both sides and forced the garrison to surrender.
Where was the German front line?
The German front line ran northwards along the east side of Auchonvillers spur, round Y ravine to Hawthorn Ridge, across the Beaumont-Hamel valley to the Beaucourt spur and the Grandcourt spur, west of Serre. No man's land tapered from south to north from 500 to 200 yd (460 to 180 m) and was devoid of cover, except for a sunken lane north of the Auchonvillers–Beaumont-Hamel road. The German front line had small salients and re-entrants, with plenty of cover in the valleys behind and well-camouflaged dugouts and house cellars. Beaumont-Hamel had been fortified and from it, German machine-gunners commanded the valley in front; artillery-observers on Beaucourt ridge had a good view over the British lines; even the British field guns could be seen. From the British front line, only the German front and support trenches were visible down the slope; its convex nature obstructed British heavy artillery and much of it remained undamaged on 1 July. The 29th Division held the east side of the Auchonvillers spur, its right flank north-east of the Auhonvillers–Beaumont-Hamel road and the left flank close to the top of Beaumont-Hamel valley, next to the 4th Division.
How many casualties did the Newfoundlanders have?
The Newfoundlanders suffered 710 casualties, of the 29th Division total of 5,240 casualties. By early November, the British in the south were ready to attack northwards towards the Ancre river, simultaneous with an attack eastwards on the north side of the river to capture Beaumont-Hamel and Serre-lès-Puisieux.
How long did the German bombardment last?
The preliminary bombardment lasted for seven days and was twice the weight of 1 July, cutting wire but having little effect on the Stollen. The British infantry hugged the creeping barrage and had an overhead machine-gun barrage to keep the Germans on the ridge east of Beaumont-Hamel under cover. The fog protected the British infantry from German return fire but also made it difficult to keep direction and the mud slowed the advance. The divisions north of the 51st (Highland) Division encountered uncut wire and were repulsed, except at the junction with the 2nd Division where the German first position was overrun. German machine-gunners in Beaumont-Hamel repulsed the frontal attack but the village was enveloped to the south and north, eventually to surrender later in the day. Infantry–artillery co-ordination was vastly superior to 1 July and was more destructive, cutting wire, demolishing German fortifications and isolating the German defenders from their supports. Mopping up captured ground was also more efficient and two platoons were set aside to capture two battalion HQs in the village which had been identified from captured documents. The synchronisation of infantry and artillery was still prone to breaking down, preventing a further advance and the British suffered many casualties but a significant success had been achieved.
How did the British demonstrate air superiority?
British air superiority was demonstrated when heavy mortars were brought up to bombard the German lines. The mortar positions were identified in a sunken road and an artillery battery engaged them but before long, British artillery-observation aircraft located the battery and directed counter-battery fire onto it, silencing the guns. The Germans found that the communication between British artillery aircraft and the guns was excellent, the aircraft flying continuous sorties over the German positions and rear areas. If the aircraft received fire from the Germans the section of trench would be shelled extensively soon afterwards. The accuracy of British shelling of communication trenches, when successive shots landed along them, making it pointless to repair them was also ascribed to the communication between RFC aircraft and the British artillery. Delivery of food to the front line was interrupted and men had to subsist on dry bread. In early November there was continuous rain and trenches began to be washed into dugouts; it became impossible to stay dry. Boots began to rot and some soldiers became too chilled to speak.
How did the 1st Essex attack?
The 1st Essex attacked as soon as it could and was bombarded by artillery from the right and machine-guns from the left as soon as the men emerged from cover; a few still managed to reach the German defences where they were killed. The remnants of both battalions were pinned down in no man's land. At 10:05 a.m., de Lisle received information about the disaster and he stopped the forward move of any more infantry and brought back the barrage from the fourth objective, at the far side of Beaumont-Hamel valley but only by 300–400 yd (270–370 m) since the positions of British troops were not certain.
When was Beaumont Hamel captured?
Beaumont Hamel stayed in Allied hands until March, 1918 when it was recaptured by the Germans during the Spring Offensive. The area was under constant contention until just before the end of the war.
Why was the assault on Beaumont Hamel moved?
The assault on Beaumont Hamel was supposed to start near the end of October. Due to bad weather , the day of the assault was repeatedly moved. The plan called for artillery barrages in the days before the assault. The start of the assault was moved at the last minute and this subjected the German defenders to reappeared bombardments.
What is the tune for the Battle of the Somme?
The next tune in our continuing series on the Pipe Tunes of the First World War, and our Battle of the Somme mini-series, is “The Taking of Beaumont Hamel.” This tune commemorates the capture of Beaumont Hamel in November 1916 but it also serves as a bookend to one of the great tragedies of the Battle of the Somme.
What was the Newfoundland Regiment's role in the Somme?
On the first day of the Somme Offensive, the Newfoundland Regiment was tasked with capturing Beaumont Hamel. At the time of the war, Newfoundland was a self governing region and not part of Canada. The region was able to raise a volunteer regiment of battalion strength ( 1,000 men ). They took part in the Gallipoli campaign, the only troops from North America in Gallipoli, before being sent to the western front.
Why was the Somme region chosen?
The Somme region was chosen because it was where the British and French armies overlapped. The plan was for the combined French and British forces to overwhelm the smaller German defenders, while squeezing the Central Powers from all sides, and bring a quick end to the war. Unfortunately the French were forced to move units that were to be part of the Somme Offensive to Verdun to prevent a German breakthrough there.
Why did the Allies start the Battle of the Somme?
The Allies decided to launch an offensive to the north of Verdun in an effort to draw away a portion of the German army at Verdun to relieve the pressure against France. This became the Somme Offensive ( the Battle of the Somme) and it started on July 1, 1916. The Somme offensive was part of a larger Allied offensive that was meant to force the Central Powers to fight on multiple fronts. The Russians would start an offensive on the eastern front and the Italians launched assaults on the Italian front.
What was the largest battle between the French and Germans in 1916?
For most of 1916 the French forces were taking part in the Battle of Verdun, the largest and longest battle between the French and Germans. In this German offensive, they endeavored to tie up, and wipe out, the majority of the French forces at Verdun. The French were taking a high number of casualties, compared to the German losses, and this was putting a huge strain on French resources.
What battle was Beaumont-Hamel in?
Map of Beaumont-Hamel during the Battle of the Somme in 1916 (red – British front line, blue – German fortifications).
What was the name of the German regiment that assaulted the German front line in 1916?
Included in this Division was the Newfoundland Regiment. Newfoundland commemorates this event as Memorial Day on 1 July each year.
What is the name of the monument in Newfoundland?
Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial. One of only two National Historic Sites of Canada outside Canada (the other being the Canadian National Vimy Memorial) and includes three British Cemeteries ( Y Ravine Cemetery, Hawthorn Ridge Cemetery No. 2 and Hunter's Cemetery) as well as the Scottish Monument and a memorial to the 29th division (of which the Newfoundland Regiment was a part).
What was the name of the town where the British exploded the mines?
The banks of white chalk at Beaumont Hamel led to a sector of British trenches being nicknamed "White City". To the west of the village was Hawthorn Ridge Redoubt, one of the sites of the mines exploded on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. On 1 July 1916, the 29th Division assaulted the German front line in an attempt to capture ...
What happened at the Battle of Beaumont-Hamel?
Remember the Battle of Beaumont-Hamel. A generation of young Newfoundlanders were lost within an hour at the Battle of Beaumont-Hamel on July 1, 1916. This year, we mark the 100th anniversary of that tragic point in our history. 1:43. For the Newfoundland Regiment, the Battle of the Somme near Beaumont-Hamel was the most devastating loss ...
How many people died in the Battle of Newfoundland?
A quarter of the Newfoundland Regiment had been killed, while another 386 were wounded. It was a brutal, bloody beginning to a battle that would see 57,000 British Commonwealth casualties in the first day alone, and would cause irreparable loss for a generation of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.
How many soldiers were mowed down on July 1, 1916?
On the morning of July 1, 1916, thousands of young men were ruthlessly mowed down while attempting to drive back German soldiers on the Western Front. More than 800 Regiment soldiers clambered out of the trenches and ran towards enemy lines. Famously, just 68 were able to answer roll call the following day. A quarter of all Royal Newfoundland ...
What was the Royal Newfoundland Regiment known for?
It has been known ever since as the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, the only unit to receive such a distinction during the First World War.
When did the Dominion of Newfoundland recruit troops?
In early August 1914, just days after war broke out, the Dominion of Newfoundland offered to recruit a regiment of 500 volunteers to serve Britain overseas.
Where was the German army entrenched?
To make matters worse, German soldiers had marched into Northern France and were entrenched near the River Somme. The plan was to have the Regiment be part of a third wave of attack to overtake German trenches near the French village of Beaumont-Hamel, and weaken the enemy's stronghold — but the plan was flawed.
What were the first waves of Allied soldiers?
The first two waves of Allied soldiers were met with brutal machine-gun fire, and troops scrambling out of the trenches had little protection as the land had been cleared by an earlier barrage of bullets and artillery.
The Plan
Battle Approaches
- As the date of the battle approached, the men of the Newfoundland Regiment grew apprehensive. "There seems to be a strange pensiveness about everything and we are all strangely thoughtful about the 'Great Push'," Lieutenant Owen Steele wrote in his diary on June 20. Yet he also expressed a confidence in the strength of the Allied forces and found comfort in a shared sense …
Preliminary Action
- On June 24, the Allied powers bombarded the German front lines with artillery. The barrage lasted a week and was intended to weaken enemy defences in advance of the July 1 ground attack. At 9:00 p.m. on June 30, the Regiment departed Louvencourt and marched three hours to its trenches on the battlefield. "It is surprising to see how happy and lighthearted everyone is, and y…
Zero Hour
- The offensive began on the morning of July 1, 1916. At 6 a.m., Allied Forces bombarded the Germans with artillery for about an hour. At 7:20 a.m., they detonated more than 18,000 kilograms of explosives under Hawthorn Ridge. The ridge was an important German stronghold on its frontline, about 700 metres to the west of Beaumont Hamel. The blast turn...
Newfoundland Regiment Advances
- The men left their trenches at 9:15 a.m., with orders to seize the first and second lines of enemy trenches. But as they moved down the exposed slope towards No Man's Land, no friendly fire covered their advance. Instead, German cross-fire cut across the advancing columns of men, killing or wounding most of them before they even reached No Man's Land. Private Anthony Stac…
Attack A Failure
- At 9:45 a.m., the Regiment's commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Hadow, reported to headquarters that the attack had failed. He received initial orders to gather any unwounded men and resume the offensive, but wiser counsel prevailed and the order was countermanded. Throughout the day, survivors tried to make the long and dangerous journey back to their own lin…
Reaction
- Beaumont Hamel plunged Newfoundland and Labrador into a period of mourning. Casualty lists appeared in local newspapers, but information came in slowly from the front lines and it was often incomplete. Many families had to endure a few tortured weeks of wondering whether their loved ones were alive or dead. British officers sent letters of condolence to the many families who ha…
Overview
The Capture of Beaumont-Hamel was a tactical incident that took place during the Battle of the Somme (1 July – 18 November 1916) in the Battle of the Ancre (13–18 November) during the second British attempt to take the village. Beaumont-Hamel is a commune in the Somme department of Picardy in northern France. The village had been attacked on 1 July, the First Day of the Somme. The German 2nd Army (General Fritz von Below) defeated the attack, inflicting many …
Background
The Ancre river flows west to Hamel then turns south through a valley past Miraumont, Grandcourt, Beaucourt-sur-l'Ancre and St Pierre Divion. On the north side of the river, the Auchonville Spur (with a lower feature called Hawthorn Ridge) and Beaucourt Spur, which descends from Colincamps and Grandcourt Spur, with the village of Serre-lès-Puisieux (Serre) on its summit to the north, point south-west down to the river. The Colincamps–Beaucourt Spur has a slight east–west rise, nort…
Prelude
The German front line ran northwards along the east side of Auchonvillers spur, round Y ravine to Hawthorn Ridge, across the Beaumont-Hamel valley to the Beaucourt spur and the Grandcourt spur, west of Serre. No man's land tapered from south to north from 500 to 200 yd (460 to 180 m) and was devoid of cover, except for a sunken lane north of the Auchonvillers–Beaumont-Hamel road. T…
1 July
The 87th Brigade (Brigadier-General C. H. T. Lucas) of the regular 29th Division attacked on the right, where the edge of Y Ravine was visible but the German wire and front line was mostly out of sight on the far side of a convex (outward curving) slope. The terrain followed the line of Beaumont-Hamel valley and the edge of the ravine, a re-entrant, from which the Germans could engage an attac…
13 November
A seven-day bombardment cut the wire on most of the attack front and destroyed many German defensive positions, except the Stollen deep below the villages near the front-line. On 13 November, a mist helped the British advance but many units lost the barrage as they struggled through mud. Both brigades of the 51st (Highland) Division attacked the first objective (green line) at Station …
Aftermath
By the end of 1 July, the 29th Division retained a footing in the Quadrilateral (Heidenkopf) north of Beaumont-Hamel but this was abandoned early on 2 July. The British bombardment had been dispersed over too large an area and counter-battery fire had failed to neutralise the German guns. The British barrage had moved forward too far too quickly and the German machine-gunn…
See also
• Battle of the Somme: order of battle
Footnotes
1. ^ Edmonds 1993, pp. 424–425.
2. ^ Sheldon 2006, pp. 28–30, 40–41.
3. ^ Sheldon 2006, p. 65.
4. ^ Duffy 2007, p. 143.