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The Somme Offensive We do hope you enjoyed your tour, and we look forward to furthering communications in the future. As mentioned earlier, please feel free to post comments and pictures on my Facebook profile. I’m also working on many more tours, which will be released soon. Have a safe time at home and stay safe!! I'm thinking about continuing about The Great War in the blog, what do you think? INTRODUCING THE FIRST WORLD WAR THE RACE TO THE SEA EQUIPPING THE FRONT-LINE THE ARTILLERY THE INFANTRY  THE FLYING CORPS  LIFE IN THE TRENCHES

SUCRERIE MILITARY CEMETERY The Sucrerie Military Cemetery was established by French Troops early in the summer of 1915, and extended to the West by British Units from July 1915 until December 1918; originally, it was called the 10th Brigade Cemetery. Furthermore, during the German retreat in March 1917, it was never more than a mile from the Frontline, and from the end of March to August 1918, it was under fire from the Enemy. At the beginning of the Somme Offensive, 1st July 1916, 13 Men from The King’s Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) were killed during the Battle of Serre, and are buried on this site, the remainder were either unidentified or buried in other Cemeteries around the Frontline. After the Armistice on the 11th November 1918, 285 French and 12 German Graves were removed to other Cemeteries, and as a consequence, there are gaps in the lettering of the Rows. There are now 1103, 1914 to 18 War fatalities Commemorated in this site. Of these 219 fatalities are unidenti...

SITE 15 SUCRERIE MILITARY CEMETERY Site Address Sucrerie Military Cemetery, D174, 80560 Mailly-Maillet, Franc Opening Hours 24hrs per day, every day of the year Admission  Free Parking  Free parking for cars and coaches in the local laybys by the Cemeteries on the main road. Directions You should continue your tour by following your SatNav to: D174, 80560 Mailly-Maillet, France. However, should you prefer not to use modern technology, follow our route: From Serre Road CWGC Cemetery, follow the Rue de Mailly Maillet, towards Mailly Maillet. After around two miles, you will pass a crossroads, go straight across, and continue for around 200 metres. Then turn Right and follow the track to the Cemetery. You shouldn’t have any concerns about the route; the location is well signposted.

THE SHEFFIELD PALS AND THE BATTLE OF SERRE On Saturday 24th June, the British Artillery opened a bombardment that, over a five-day period, was intended to destroy the German defences. Each night the Battalion sent out raiding and wire-examining parties; worryingly, the German wire was found to be uncut. On the 28th June, word was received that the attack would be postponed for two days because of the poor weather. The new time for the start of the offensive was 07:30hrs on Saturday the 1st July 1916. The day before the Offensive began badly, with the news that Lt-Col. Crosthwaite was seriously ill, requiring his hurried replacement by Major Plackett. At 03:45hrs on the 1st July, the Battalion was in position in the assembly trenches, finding them already in a terrible condition from German shellfire. Patrols from the fourth and seventh Companies of the 169th (8th Baden) Infantry Regiment defending Serre noted the build-up. With the appearance of daylight at 04:05hrs, Ge...

The Sheffield Pals In common with other industrial towns in the North of England, Sheffield was quick to form its own ‘Pal’ Battalion in the early weeks of the First World War. On the 1st July 1916, the Sheffield City Battalion fought alongside the Accrington Pals in the heroic but hopeless attempt to capture the heavily-fortified village of Serre. In the memorable words of John Harris: Two years in the making. Ten minutes in the destroying. That was our history Within a month of Britain's declaration of war against Germany on the 4th August 1914, the Duke of Norfolk and Sir George Franklin presented themselves at the War Office to propose the formation of a Sheffield Battalion recruited from both the university and commercial Men. The proposal was readily accepted, and on the 10th September enlistment began at the Corn Exchange for the Sheffield City Battalion, the 12th (Service) Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment. The heady atmosphere of the time was caught in placa...

SITE 14 SHEFFIELD PALS Site Address Sheffield Pals, Unnamed Rd, 62111 Hébuterne, France Opening Hours 24 per day, every day of the year  An important point to note, however, the local farmer is not a friendly person, he does not like people walking on his fields, or blocking his access along the lane. Therefore, we would suggest you walk from the main road to the site, and be courteous to the farmer.  Admission   Free Parking  Free parking for cars and coaches in the local laybys by the Cemeteries on the main road. Directions You should continue your tour by following your SatNav to: D919, 62116 Puisieux, France - Then on foot as per the following instructions. However, should you prefer not to use modern technology, follow our route: From Beaumont Hamel, follow the Rue de la Montagne, towards Serre. After around one mile, you will arrive at a T junction, turn right on to the Rue de Mailly Maillet, parking is in the lay next to the Serre Road Ceme...

THE BATTLE OF ANCRE (BEAUMONT HAMEL) Assembly Point Beaumont Hamel was an important objective of the Battle of Ancre, which took place between the 13th and 19th November 1916; the final phase of the Somme Offensive. As mentioned in the Newfoundland Park section, Beaumont Hamel had been attacked on the first day of the Somme Offensive; unfortunately, the attack failed, and the heavily fortified area was regarded as almost impregnable. The November attack was to be carried out by the Fifth Army, with II Corps South of the river, and V Corps North of the river. V 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 objective for the 52nd Highland Division ran from the village of Beaumont Hamel South-East to ‘Y’ Ravine. The latter was a heavily fortified ‘Y’ shaped Ravine with steep sides running towards the British line; there was also a ...

BEAUMONT HAMEL 51st Highland Division Memoria l In Beaumont Hamel, at the bottom of the Rue de la Montagne stands the white painted base of a flagpole. This flagpole commemorates the capture of the village by the 51st Highland Division on the 13th of November 1916. Until recently, however, only the base of the flagpole remained with a small conifer hedge behind it. An appeal was launched by the Scottish Branch of the Western Front Association (WFA) to reinstate the flagpole; generous donations were made by WFA members. The replacement flagpole was unveiled at Beaumont Hamel on the 90th Anniversary of the Battle, the 13th of November 2006. A new plaque by the flagpole with the insignia of the Highland Division gives information about the attack on the 13th of November, along with a verse written by Lieutenant E. A. Mackintosh of the Division who died in 1917. As you arrive in Beaumont Hamel, you will notice several sites of interest along the road; this road leads across t...

SITE 13 BEAUMONT HAMEL Site Address Beaumont Hamel, 80300 Beaumont Hamel, France Opening Hours 24 per day, every day of the year Admission Free Parking Free parking for cars and coaches in the local laybys Directions You should continue your tour by following your SatNav to: 80300 Beaumont Hamel, France. However, should you prefer not to use modern technology, follow our route from: Auchonvillers on the Rue Delattre, at the end of the road, around 500 metres, turn right onto the Rue d’en Bas, towards Beaumont Hamel; after around one mile you will arrive in the village of Beaumont Hamel. Roadside parking is available. You shouldn’t have any concerns about the route; the location is well signposted.

AUCHONVILLERS Auchonvillers, known as Ocean villas by the British Troops, was a small village which was almost totally decimated by shell fire between 1915 and 1918. As it was close to the Front-Line, areas were utilised by the Allies; for example, the stable (part of Avril’s Guesthouse Complex) was used as an Advanced Dressing Station, and Casualty Collecting Post. Adjacent to the farm buildings, the Scottish Churches erected a large tent to supply nourishment for the wounded, stretcher bearers, and prisoners. The tented facility was also used by the Allies during their down time, it was a place of sanctuary and peace, a place they could pray, and a place they could escape the traumatic events on the Front-Line. Originally, the farm buildings were intact, but as the War progressed, shells caused detrimental damage, so the dressing station was moved into the cellar; with entry via the trench system outside. As the War drew on, the Dressing Station was moved, and the cellar w...

SITE 12 - AUCHONVILLERS Site Address Auchonvillers, 10 Rue Delattre, 80560 Auchonvillers, France Opening Hours 08:30 to 18:30hrs Admission Museum €5.00 Cellar donations welcome Facilities Tea room, serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, with snacks in between Free parking for cars and coaches Contact Details +33 (0)3 22 76 23 66 Directions You should continue your tour by following your SatNav to: 10 Rue Delattre, 80560 Auchonvillers, France. However, From the Newfoundland Memorial Park, after around two miles turn right into Auchonvillers; within 100 meters you will see the Ocean Villas tea room, this is the base for the Auchonvillers part of the itinerary. You shouldn’t have any concerns about the route; the location is well signposted.

WORK TIME Sorry about the delay, ended up working yesterday and today. M

NEWFOUNDLAND PARK Newfoundland Memorial The conventional story told about the terrible events here at Newfoundland Park on the 1st day of the Somme Offensive focuses on the single Newfoundland Regiment; not surprisingly, because Newfoundland Park is named in honour of the Men of that Regiment who fought and died here. The Newfoundland Regiment, of only one Battalion and about 800 strong, arrived in the reserve trench (which can be seen running parallel to the road as the Park is entered) at 08:45hrs on the 1st July 1916.  How the Battle unfolded. Firstly, the Hawthorne Redoubt mine, arguably the main failing of the whole attack in this area. It is undeniable that setting off the mine at the incorrect time started the catastrophic chain of events, that led to so many thousands of unnecessary deaths, some 250 Soldiers of whom still lay unburied here as they fell. All 19 mines tunnelled under strategic German defences along the 60-mile Somme Offensive line were set off...

SITE 11 NEWFOUNDLAND PARK Site Address   Newfoundland Memorial Park,  Route de l’Église  80300 Beaumont-Hamel, France  Opening Hours   09:00 to 17:00hrs, except Monday 12:00 to 17:00hrs  Admission   Free  Parking  Free parking for cars and coaches in the dedicated carpark  Contact Information  Telephone: +33 (0)3 22 76 70 86  Email: beaumonthamel.memorial@vac-acc.gc.ca   Directions You should continue your tour by following your SatNav to: Rue de l'Église, 80300 Beaumont-Hamel, France. However, should you decide to use one of our recommended hotels in Amiens (they were used on the original Michelin tours in 1919), and prefer not to use modern technology, follow our route, using the road signs from your start point, and on to the D929, towards Albert. From the centre of Albert, head towards the village of Aveluy, along Route d’Aveluy (D50). Once you arrive at Aveluy, turn righ...

COMPLETION OF DAY 3 I hope you enjoyed today's tour, we will continue on the last day tomorrow. Day 4 Route

MUSÉE SOMME 1916 The Museum opened its doors on the 1st July 1992; that year, 10,000 entries were registered. The number reached 90,000 by 2014, 60% of the visitors being English speaking. Each year, the Museum obtains new relics to give value to the scenes during the winter closure. From the 9th Century, through to the 16th Century, the population of Albert, like many other villages and towns in the Picardy region, dug into the chalky soil underneath their homes to build tunnels and hideouts, called muches to take cover from any Normand or Spanish invasions which frequently occurred during that period. The Germans took Albert during their Ludendorff Offensive the 21st March until the 5th April 1918, also known as the second Battle of the Somme, or the Kaiserschlacht (Michael). The Allies decided the only way to retrieve the town for the British Army was to destroy it completely; the Post Office was the only building left standing. On the 22nd August 1918, the British r...

SITE 10 MUSÉE SOMME 1916 Site Address   Musée Somme 1916,  Rue Anicet Godin,  80300 Albert, France  Opening Hours  The Site is open daily, from 09:00hrs to 18:00hrs  Admission   Adults 6.50€ Children 4.00€  Facilities  Car parking is available in the town centre  Lunch Suggestion   We suggest that you take lunch before entering the Museum, our recommendation is the café over the road:  Hygge café, 29 Place d’Armes, 80300 Albert, France   Contact Information  Website: http://www.musee-somme-1916.eu/index.php?lang=en   Directions You should continue your tour by following your SatNav to: Rue Anicet Godin, 80300 Albert, France. However, if you prefer not to use modern technology, follow our route. Return to Albert by reversing the route out, head back through the village on Rue d’Arras, until you arrive at the T junction for the Rue de Peronne D938. Turn right, and foll...

Fricourt German War Cemetery The Fricourt German War Cemetery was established in 1920, by the French Military Authorities, and concentrates the burials from 79 communes in the regions around Bethune, Albert, Combles, Ancre Valley, and Villers-Bretonneux. Most of the fallen were members of the Imperial German Second Army. Of the 17,000 burials, about 1,000 died in the autumn of 1914 and the ensuing trench warfare; about 10,000 during the Somme Offensive; the final 6,000 in the Spring Offensive of 1918 and the ensuing Allied counterattack, the 100 Days Offensive. In 1929, the Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge (VDK) started working on the German Military grave registration service and landscaping the Cemetery. It received a new entrance with stairs, and wrought-iron gate and trees and bushes were planted. The community graves got a verge made of natural stone and a planting with game roses. A high wooden cross served as a central mark; however, the problem of a dur...

SITE 9 - FRICOURT GERMAN CEMETERY Site Address  Fricourt German Cemetery,  21 Rue de Pozières,  80300 Fricourt, France  Opening Hours  The Cemetery is on the roadside; therefore, it is open 24hrs per day, every day of the year  Admission  Free  Facilities   Free parking for cars and coaches in the layby opposite  Contact Information   Website: http://www.greatwar.co.uk/somme/cemetery-fricourt.htm   Directions You should continue your tour by following your SatNav to: 21 Rue de Pozières, 80300 Fricourt, France. However, if you booked into one of our recommended hotels in Amiens, and prefer not to use modern technology, follow our route, using the road signs from your start point, and on to the D929, towards Albert. Continue on the ring road around Albert (D929), until you reach the junction for Bécordel-Bécourt, Ruete de Peronne D938. When you arrive at Fricourt, turn left on to Rue d’Arr...