*VIRTUAL TOUR - The Somme Offensive Continued*

The Battle of Thiepval Ridge

Thiepval Ridge commanded the surrounding area between the rivers Somme and Ancre. In the autumn of 1914, German Generals recognised its tactical importance, and made Thiepval Ridge the centre of their defensive line along the Somme front. The Germans constructed an in-depth defensive system using barbed wire entanglements, machine-gun emplacements, and deep fortified bunkers that could withstand heavy Artillery bombardments. They included three key Redoubts: Schwaben, Zollern, and Stuff; they were formidable positions to the immediate North of the village. The dominating site was very important to the Allies; they needed to take it to secure other areas around the river Ancre.

Thiepval Wood Trench

The Battle of Thiepval Ridge was led by General Gough's Reserve Army, with the objective of securing Thiepval and driving the Germans off the dominating crest line from Courcelette to the Schwaben Redoubt. At 12:35hrs on the 26th September 1916, after the preparatory three-day Artillery bombardment, four assault Divisions surged forward on a 6,000-yard front, between Courcelette in the East, and the German Frontline South of Thiepval. On the extreme right the Canadian second and 1st Divisions, shielded by a creeping barrage, made their first objectives North of Courcelette. The adjoining 11th Division, attacking Northwards, quickly overran Mouquet Farm, but experienced the difficulty in subduing its surviving defenders. The eventual surrender of the depleted Garrison allowed the 11th Division to move against Zollern Redoubt; however, severe casualties slowed progress, and by the evening the attackers had stalled at its edge. The 18th Division's systematic uphill advance on Thiepval met with early success; although, Enemy resistance stiffened, and the push through to the village was halted by machine-gun fire near the ruined Château. A tank crucially intervened, and by 14:30hrs, after much violent close-quarter fighting, the greater part of Thiepval was secured; it was fully cleared early the next morning.

The attack was made by the Canadian Corps and II Corps, with four Divisions; the Canadian Corps was to capture the spur heading North-West from Courcelette, while II Corps was to capture the Zollern, Stuff, and Schwaben Redoubts, along with Thiepval village. II Corps was expected to have the hardest job, as it would be attacking part of the original heavily defended German Front-Line, as well as the three powerful Redoubts; accordingly, it was given six of the eight available tanks. The attack was to be supported by 230 heavy Artillery guns and howitzers, and 570 Field guns. The assault on the 26th September was a mixed success; on the right, the Canadians captured their limited objectives in the first attack. On the left, the 34th Brigade of the 11th Division suffered very heavy losses and failed to make any real progress. In comparison, the 33rd Brigade suffered 600 casualties; most of them wounded, yet they still took most of their objectives.

During the afternoon, following the evacuation of Zollern Redoubt, the 11th Division stormed Stuff Redoubt and gained precarious hold of its Southern edge. In the afternoon of the 28th September, the 18th Division advanced on Schwaben Redoubt, the Southern and Western faces of which were occupied by the evening. By the end of the Battle, the British had gained most of the ridgeline, though sections of Stuff and Schwaben Redoubts remained in German hands. On the left, the 18th Division was partially successful, on the right it’s 53rd Brigade advanced very quickly, capturing its first objective in 12 minutes, and the Zollern trench by 13:15hrs. However, an attempt to capture its final objective for the day failed, and the Troops spent the night in the Zollern trench. Finally, the 54th Brigade captured most of the village of Thiepval, with the help of a single tank that overcame resistance in the ruins of Thiepval Château; the Brigade suffered 840 casualties out of its 2,290 Officers and Men. On the 27th September, the 11th Division attacked again, bringing their 32nd Brigade out of reserve, and gained a footing in the Stuff Redoubt. To the West, the 33rd and 53rd Brigades consolidated their lines, while the 54th Brigade cleared Thiepval village. Over the remaining three days of the Battle, the fighting raged around the Stuff and Schwaben Redoubts. By the end of the Battle, the Allies had reached the line of their final objective, but were unable to clear out the two remaining Redoubts. In the end, they were taken during the Battle of Ancre Heights in early October.

Thiepval Trench Map