*VIRTUAL TOUR - The Somme Offensive Continued* The Battle of Delville Wood

THE BATTLE OF DELVILLE WOOD

Damaged Trenches

The village of Longueval is situated on a ridge at the junction of four roads, and had 130 houses and 406 inhabitants in 1914. Its most important building was the Sugar Factory at Waterlot Farm on the Guillemont road. Adjacent to the village is Delville Wood, 156 acres with a dense undergrowth and seamed with grassy ridges. The control of the wood was essential to ensure the capture of the village and the continuation of the offensive towards Flers. As with many of the villages in the area, Longueval had been turned into a fortress, equipped with re-enforced cellars, underground tunnels, and machine-gun nests, manned by German Soldiers, who had been told not to yield a meter of ground. On the 14th July 1916, the 2nd Battalion of the 16th (Bavarian) Infantry Regiment was in the line at Longueval. The Ridge was attacked at 03:35hrs on the 26th and 27th Brigades of the 9th (Scottish) Division. The South African Infantry Brigade was in reserve and was initially planned to take part in the ‘cleaning’ of the village and the wood. The Scots seized the Southern part of the village, and patrols of the 8th Black Watch advanced into the wood. But Germans still held the Northern part of the village, strongly fortified, and strengthened in the wood; the fierce fighting in the village, and around Waterlot Farm had caused heavy losses among the Allies. The 1st South African Infantry was sent to the village to assist in clearing the South of Longueval, and the three other South African Regiments were prepared to penetrate the wood, but the advance was postponed until the following morning. 

On the 15th July, at 05:00hrs, the first South African Soldiers penetrated the wood, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Tanner. The progress was slow because of the tangles of trees destroyed by the first Artillery bombardment. At noon, the whole wood, except its North-Western quarter, which was too strongly defended, was under Allied control. The entrenchment began, but this was difficult due to the nature of the ground strewn with roots and by a constant bombardment including gas shells, all under a stifling heat. Germans launched three counterattacks, which were all repulsed; the rate of the German bombardment often reached 400 shells per minute. 

Taking Shelter

The casualties were heavy, and the only Reserve of the Brigade consisted of three Companies, despite the fact that the 1st South African Infantry had returned to Lukin's command. Before the attack, two Companies of the 4th South African Infantry were detached to the 5th Cameron Highlanders; they took part in the attack of Waterlot Farm, which was not taken until the following day. After the attack, they returned to the South African Brigade in Delville Wood. All through the furious night of the 15th July, South Africans were digging trenches to save their lives; at 02:35hrs, Lukin received orders from the Division, stating that the quarter held by the Enemy must be taken at all costs. Without Artillery preparation, the attack by the Royal Scots from the village, and the 1st South African Infantry from Prince Street was a failure, and the attacking Troops fell back. It was during this hot and dusty day that the first difficulties appeared, the supply of food and water, as well as the evacuation of the wounded became perilous. Lieutenant Colonel Dawson, Commanding Officer of the first Regiment, asked for relief; but fresh Troops could not yet be spared for the work. The Division ordered that the wood must be held at all cost; furthermore, another attack against the North-West corner was ordered for the next morning. 

In spite of an Artillery bombardment, the attack, made shortly before dawn on the 17th July, by the 1st and 2nd South African Infantry, did not succeed; the Germans were stubborn Defenders. In the morning, General Lukin visited the wood and was worried about the fatigue of his men. He now had no Troops who had not been in action for at least 48 hours. A fight in a wood was the most difficult kind of Battle, and most of the South Africans had to find cover under continuous machine-gun and Artillery fire. On his return to his Headquarters, Lukin discussed the situation on the telephone with General Furse, Commander of the 9th (Scottish) Division; unfortunately, he was given no hope of relief or reinforcements. Furthermore, the instructions from the XIII Corps still stood: 

the wood must be held at any cost 

The fourth day was the crisis of the Battle for the South African Infantry, during the night, a strong Enemy attack was launched, and Germans advanced as far as Buchanan Street and Princes Street; a costly counter-attack expelled them. At 03:45hrs, the 3rd Division succeeded in taking the orchard to the North of Longueval, and the 1st South African Infantry joined hands with the 1st Gordon Highlanders; but this sudden success was due to German Infantry having evacuated the orchard for a barrage by its Artillery. At 08:00hrs, a bombardment of unprecedented severity was open on the wood and Longueval; every part of the area was pounded by shells until 03:30hrs. The 3rd Division was expelled from the Northern part of Longueval, and fresh German Troops began to enter the wood from all sides. To the great surprise of the attackers, the handful of South African survivors gave a stubborn resistance and took part in fierce fighting with high losses on both sides. The South African Soldiers, driven back to the South-Western part of the wood, formed a pocket of resistance, assisted by Highlanders of the Division. A new German Division was committed to expelling them; although, it never succeeded.

First Aid Post

All through the 19th July, the brave handful of Men suffered nonstop shelling and sniping, yet continued to repulse the attackers; albeit, with heavy losses. On the Eastern edge of the wood, the remains of the 3rd South African Infantry, which had successfully resisted the thrust of the German Infantry on their front, were now effectively cut off; 190 Men were captured. The first relief by the 26th Brigade begun in difficult conditions; Germans launched several attacks against Thackeray's Troops, but could not overrun them; the Colonel himself fought with rifle and grenade in the trenches. Finally, in the evening the promised relief arrived with the men of the 3rd Division. Thackeray marched out with two Officers, both of whom were wounded, and 140 other ranks, made up of details from all the Units of the Brigade. He spent the night at Talus Boisé, and the next day he joined the rest of the Brigade at Happy Valley. 

Out of the 121 Officers and 3032 Other Ranks who formed the Brigade on the 14th July, only 29 Officers and 751 Other Ranks were present at the roll call a few days after the Battle. The heroic resistance of the South African Brigade, against the well trained German Army, had saved the Southern part of the British line. The wood remained the scene of bitter fighting for more than a month, and units of seven British Divisions were committed there. Finally, Delville Wood was entirely in the hands of the Allies by the end of August, when the 14th (Light) Division captured it for good. The wood remained in the Front-Line until the 15th September 1916, when the attack with tanks, extended the Front Eastwards and Northwards.

Directions 

You should continue your tour by following your SatNav back to your hotel. However, should you prefer not to use modern technology, follow our route from the South African Museum and Memorial, back towards Longueval, along Rue de Pėronne. From the village square, follow the signs for Ovillers-la-Boisselle, along Rue de Bazentin, D20. You will pass through a couple of villages, stay on the D20 toward Ovillers-la-Boisselle, around seven miles. When you reach the T junction, turn left towards Albert, on the D929. Continue on the D929, around Albert, and on towards Amiens. When you arrive at Amiens, follow the reverse of your outward journey, back to your hotel.