Near Beaumont Hamel, a mine of 40,000 pounds had been placed under the Hawthorn Redoubt, a German strongpoint on the Hawthorn Ridge.
Controversially the mine at Beaumont Hamel was blown at 7:20 am, 10 minutes ahead of zero hour. The German defenders were now alerted and rushed to the crater. The British did gain the near side, establishing machine guns and mortar positions. However, the supporting ammunition carriers were cut down by machine gun fire. Around 10:30 am the Germans counter attacked, and the crater fell into German hands
The Corps had ordered the divisional artilleries 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.
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Hawthorn Ridge April 2011 |