Each of the villages of Serre and Beaumont Hamel had been turned into mini fortresses, and strong positions had been built on the ridge and at the Y Ravine.
The plan was to conduct a simultaneous attack on Serre, Redanst Division would wheel at right angle to the axis of attack, and form flank protection to the Corps.
The Corps had ordered the divisional artillery's to lift slowly at a pace of 50 yards in the minute. However, all three divisions prepared lifts of 100 yards. The effect of this was the infantry were unable to keep pace with the barrage, and the initial lift took it beyond the German front line as no mans land was so short. This left the infantry exposed in no mans land with disastrous consequences.
The 'Pals Battalions of the 31st Division sustained heavy losses, a memorial to those who fell from Accrington, Barnsley, Bradford, Durham, Halifax, Hull, Leeds, Sheffield and the T’Others records the sacrifice of the New Army Soldiers.
