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| Montauban Liberation Stone IJ |
The village of Montauban lay on a spur and it’s capture on the 1st July 1916 was vital to Anglo-French operation in order to secure the southern flank of the British Fourth Army, and conform with the advance of the French Sixth Army along the River Somme.
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| Looking Towards Montauban IWM ART 289 |
The XIII Corps plan called for the 18th Division (3 brigades) on the left and the 30th Division (2 brigades) on the right to secure German defensive positions in front of the village. Once secured, a third brigade of the 30th Division would seize Montauban.
On the 1st July 1916, two mines were detonated at 07:28, and two minutes later, the assault began. The preliminary bombardment had been successful. Counter battery fires had destroyed many German guns and there was little artillery fire in response to the British advance. The intensity of the heavy artillery had destroyed German dugouts and prevented relief of units in the line. Large numbers of German soldiers were suffering from exhaustion and shell shock. The field artillery preliminary bombardment had cut the wire.
Aided by the creeping barrage the assaulting troops reached their objectives. Montauban was captured, the enemy pushed back 1,400 metres, and the link up with French forces on the flank achieved.
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| The British Capture Montauban July 1 |
A memorial marks the furthest extent of the British advance on the 1st July. It records;
“TO THE GLORIOUS MEMORY OF THE LIVERPOOL AND MANCHESTER PALS WHO AS PART OF THE 30TH DIVISION LIBERATED THE VILLAGE 1ST JULY 1916”
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| Montauban Liberation Stone |
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| Montauban Liberation Stone Liverpool Pals |
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| Montauban Liberation Stone Manchester Pals |
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| Montauban Liberation Stone NVAA |
