After the failure of the Somme Offensive on 1st July 1916, the British had conducted operations which had moved their front line forward south of the Albert-Bapaume Road, building upon the rare successes of the opening day of the battle. It was a tactic of 'bite and hold' , capture ground and hold it against German counter-attack.
In September 1916 it was decided to attack on a broader front of 11 kilometers using 11 divisions in an attempt to breakthrough the German lines. The attack would be launched from Courcelette to the west, and Flers to the east.
The Canadian Corps were tasked with the capture of Courcelete, III Corps Martinpunch and XV Corps Flers. The assault would see the first use of tanks in warfare. A preliminary bombardment lasting three days would precede the attack.
The 50th Northumbrian Division were part of III Corps and this would be their first set piece battle. The III Corps plan was capture Martinpunch with the 15th (Scottish) Division on the left, clear High Wood with the 47th (2nd London) Division on the right, with the 50th (Northumbrian) Division in the centre.
The 50th Division would attack with 150 Brigade left, 149 Brigade right and 151 Brigade in reserve.
At 06:10 15th September 1916, 4 tanks began to move forward to into 149 Brigades position. Eight minutes later they crossed over the assembly trenches of the 7th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers into no mans land.
At 06:20, the Divisional Artillery began firing a creeping barrage, moving forward at 50 yards a minute. The first time the 50th (Northumbrian) Division had used this method of fire.
On the left, 150 Brigade made good progress, assisted by the sucess of the 15th (Scottish) Division who had captured Martinpunch by 10:00. To the right, 149 Brigade was slowed by heavy machine gun fire from High Wood as the 47th (2nd London Division) struggled to clear the area. The 47th would take High Wood by 13:00, assisting 149 Brigade to secure their objectives.
German counter attacks during the afternoon resulted in them regaining some of the ground in the 150 brigade area. The 151sr Brigade would attempt to recapture the ground over the next two days without sucess.
The relief of the 50th (Northumbrian) Division commenced on the 17th September.
The battle fo Flers-Courcelette resulted in the capture of Courcelette, Martinpunch and Flers, the front advancing between 2,300 metres to 3,200 metres. It did not however achieve the desired breakthrough.
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| Somme post Battle Flers-Courcelette |
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