Northumbrian Gunner: Somme 2023

The village of La Boisselle lies on the Albert to Bapaume road, the main axis for the Fourth Army assualt on the 1st July 1916.

The road ran between two valleys which had been nicknamed Sausage and Mash along which the primary German defences were situated. To the north of La Boisselle was the village of Ovillers. Both villages had been heavily fortified, supported by strong points.

III Corps were ordered to capture the two villages and secure the high ground to the north. The 8th Division Ovillers, the 34th Division La Boisselle.

III Corps La Boisselle and Ovillers

The 34th Division at La Boisselle would attack with the 102nd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade left, and the 101st Brigade on the right. The 103rd (Tyneside Irish) Brigade would be echeloned behind the two assaulting brigades to attack beyond the initial divisional objectives.

Mines had been dug under two strong points and explosives placed for detonation prior to the assault. Y-Sap (18,000kg), Lochngar (27,000) kg and two smaller mines (3,600 kg each) in front of the ‘Glory Hole’ in front of La Boisselle.

La Boisselle

At 07:28, the mines were blown, two minutes later to the skirl of the pipes, the Tyneside Scottish left their trenches to commence the assault. The Tyneside Irish were echeloned to the rear, of the Tyneside Scottish ready to exploit the gains of the two assaulting brigades.

The failings of the primary bombardment became apparent. Poor co-operation between the Royal Flying Corps and the artillery meant many German guns were undetected, thus able to bring fire down on the advancing British troops. Machine guns protected in deep dugouts were deployed and swept no mans land with murderous fire.

Brigadier Trevor Ternan, commanding the Tyneside Scottish Brigade described the scene;

“The attack had been pushed on with extraordinary heroism, but with no avail Officers and men had been literally mowed down, but in rapidly diminishing numbers they resolutely pushed on to meet their deaths close to the enemy wire. No-Mans-Land was reported to be heaped with dead.“

“While the enemy’s Artillery caused many casualties our losses were mainly due to the intensity of the enemy’s machine gun fire”

The 101st Brigade where however able to capture the Lochnagar Crater, allowing many men, including those of the Tyneside Scottish and Irish to take refuge in the large hole left by the mine explosion.

Of all the assaulting divisions on the 1st July, it was the 34th Division which sustained the heaviest casualties (6,380), as the decimated ranks of the Tyneside Scottish and Tyneside Irish would testify. They would be withdrawn form the line to regenerate.

Tyneside Scottish Casualties: 920 killed / 1,368 wounded = 2,288

Tyneside Irish Casualties: 596 killed / 1,575 wounder = 2,171

At La Boisselle a memorial seat commemorates the losses of the men from Tyneside.