Somme - La Boiselle

 The plan was the 34^th Division (including the Tyneside Scottish and Tyneside Irish Brigades) to attack on the right. The axis of attack was on the Fricourt Spur astride Sausage Valley as far as La Boiselle. On the left, the 8^th Division would capture the German defences north of the Baupane Road on the western slope of the Ovillers spur, as well as the village of Ovillers.



Counter Battery fire had failed to silence the German guns mainly as a result of poor cooperation with the Royal Flying Corps.
The 34^th Divisional Artillery had conducted a series of 6 lifts. Each lift would then search back form its line meaning the infantry could not stay close to the fire. The attack failed.

In October 1914 the Tyneside Irish requested Artillery Brigade. The 160th Brigade RFA was raised in early 1915 by Alderman Stanefield Richardson, the Mayor of Sunderland and the Recruiting Committee. The Brigade was allocated to the 34th Divisional Artillery and supported the Tyneside Brigades during the Battle of the Somme.

The Tyneside Scottish and Irish seat was unveiled on the 20th April 1922 by Marshal Foch.

Marshal Foch unviels Tyneside Scottish memorial April 1922

Tyneside Scottish Memorial April 2011

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MARSHAL FOCH