Somme 2023 - Animal War Memorial

 Animals were vital to the conduct of World War One. Horses were integral to the cavalry,  hauled artillery, the logistics chain depended on horses, as well as donkeys and mules. Dogs and pigeons carried messages. It is estimated that  9 million war animals died on the Western Front in WWI.

Pozières Animal War Memorial IJ

An Animal War Memorial is located north of Pozieres to remember the animals lost on the Western Front during World War One.

World War 1 Animal War Memorial, Pozieres France 

 Pozières Animal War Memorial

Pozières Animal War Memorial

Pozières Animal War Memorial

Pozières Animal War Memorial

Pozières Animal War Memorial
New Zealand Animals

Somme 2023 - Pozières Memorial and Cem

Pozieres Memorial and Cemetery

 The Pozieres Memorial and cemetery is located on the Albert-Bapaume Road between La Boisselle and Pozieres.

The Pozieres Memorial commemorates 14,300 casualties who have no known grave who died on the Somme between 21 March to 7 August 1918.  The memorial surrounds a cemetery where 2,760 Commonwealth servicemen are buried or commemorated, 1,382 of whom are unidentified. Plot II of the Poziers British Cemetery contains original burials from those killed in 1916, 1917 and 1918. The remaining plots are concentrations made after the Armistice, the majority of whom died in the Autumn of 1916. 

Pozieres Memorial | CWGC

There are 671 Gunners listed on the Pozieres Memorial. Royal Horse Artillery number 34, Royal Field Artillery 537, and the Royal Garrison Artillery 100.

Pozieres British Cemetery | CWGC

The Pozieres Cemetery is the resting place of 79 Gunners, 53 served in the Royal Field Artillery, and 26 in the Royal Garrison Artillery.

Pozieres Memorial and Cemetery Entrance

Pozieres Memorial and Cemetery

Pozieres Memorial and Cemetery

Pozieres Memorial and Cemetery

Pozieres Memorial and Cemetery Cross of Sacrifice

Pozieres Cemetery Unknown Soldiers

------o------

Pozieres Memorial 
Royal Field Artillery

Lt Osmund Bellamy
315 Northumbrian Brigade RFA

Lieutenant Osmund Bellamy is commemorated  on the 1st Northumbrian Brigade Royal Field Artillery memorial fireplace. 

He was was killed in action at Ugny l’ Equipee (20km SE of Peronne). on the First Day of the German Spring Offensive, 21st March 1918. Lieutenant Bellamy was serving with 315 Brigade RFA,  2nd Line 1st Northumbrian Brigade, who were part of the 63 (Royal Naval) Divisional Artillery.

Osmund Bellamy has no known grave and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial.

Lieutenant Osmund Bellamy | CWGC

Pozieres Cemetery  Gunners
2nd Divisional Ammunition Column

Rank   Name                 Date of Death Unit

Dvr  A   COLEBROOK 01/02/1917 2nd Div. Ammo Col.

Dvr  C   FERGUSON 01/02/1917 2nd Div. Ammo Col.

Dvr  F   BURGESS         01/02/1917 2nd Div. Ammo Col.

Cpl  WH  SCOTT         01/02/1917 2nd Div. Ammo Col.

Dvr  AE   POWERS         01/02/1917 2nd Div. Ammo Col.

Pozieres Cemetery  Gunners
2nd Divisional Ammunition Column / 23 Siege Battery

Rank Name                  Date of Death Unit

Gnr   E GREEN                 01/02/1917 2nd Div. Ammo Col.

Dvr   R BEST                 01/02/1917 2nd Div. Ammo Col.

Dvr   G ALLAWAY           01/02/1917 2nd Div. Ammo Col.

Gnr   JT MIDDLEBROUGH  04/11/1916 23rd Siege Bty.

Gnr  T CROWDER             14/11/1916 23rd Siege Bty.

Gnr  J DILLON             16/10/1916 23rd Siege Bty.

Gnr  AE LAY                     16/10/1916 23rd Siege Bty.

Gnr T FOTHERGILL     16/10/1916 23rd Siege Bty.

Pozieres Cemetery  Gunners
D Battery RFA / 112 Heavy Battery RGA

Rank Name       Death Date Unit

Gnr J MACHIN 02/11/1916 122nd Heavy Bty.  RGA

Dvr F KERSHAW 03/11/1916 "D" Bty. 112th Bde. RFA

Dvr H MAKINSON 03/11/1916 "D" Bty. 112th Bde. RFA

Gnr G W BULL         23/11/1916 122nd Heavy Bty.  RGA

Gnr T HICKEY 23/11/1916 122nd Heavy Bty.  RGA

Gnr W McLEAR 23/11/1916 122nd Heavy Bty.  RGA

Gnr A RIGBY         23/11/1916 122nd Heavy Bty.    RGA

Gnr H E STOKES 23/11/1916 122nd Heavy Bty. RGA

Gnr A G VENTIN 23/11/1916 122nd Heavy Bty.  RGA

Major AA Torrens
48 Brigade Royal Field Artillery

Major Attwood Alfred Torrens was killed in action 8th December 1916 when he was struck by a shell fragment. He was serving with the 4th South Midland Howitzer Brigade Territorial Force. An old Harrovian who was a stock broker before the war and a member of the MCC.

Somme 2023 - Pozières Tank Memorial

 A memorial to the Tank Corps is situated north of the village of Pozières. The location was selected as it was near that point that first ever tanks went into action during the Battle of Flers-Courcellette on 15th September 1916. 

Pozières Tank Memorial IJ

It was unveiled by Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas L. N. Morland in July 1922.

Pozières Tank Memorial Unveiling 1922

The memorial features an obelisk with the models of four different tanks mounted on plinths.

Pozières Tank Memorial

Pozières Tank Memorial Mark IV Tank

Pozières Tank Memorial Mark IV Tank

Pozières Tank Memorial Gun Carrier Mark I

Pozières Tank Memorial Whippet Tank

A plaque commemorates the first use of tanks in war  and remembers the men form the Tank Corps who lost thier lives during the Great War. 

Pozières Tank Memorial Commemoration Plaque

NEAR THIS SPOT THE FIRST TANKS USED IN WAR WENT INTO ACTION ON 15TH SEPTEMBER 1915.

----------------

THIS MONUMENT IS ERECTED TO THE MEMORY OF OFFICERS, WARRANT OFFICERS, NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS & MEN OF THE TANK CORPS WHO FELL IN ACTION IN THE YEARS 1916-1917-1918 DURING THE GREAT WAR

Three plaques record the battles and actions in which the Tanks were engaged;

1916 —1st SOMME—ANCRE

1917 —1st ARRAS—MESSINES—3rd YPRES—1st CAMBRAI

1918 —2nd SOMME — RIVER LYS — HAMEL — MARNE — MOREUIL — AMIENS —       BAPAUME—ARRAS— EPEHY— CAMBRAI — ST. QUENTIN — SELLE — MORMAL FOREST

First Tanks in Action

First tank Battle of Flers-Courcelette 15 September 1916

On the evening of the 14th July 36 tanks moved to thier allotted starting points prior to the Battle of Flers-Courcelette. 

Tank preparing to advance at Flers-Courcelette 15-09-1916
Source: IWM Q5574

The first tank into action was D16, which moved off just after 08:20. The Official History of the Great War recording;

The scene in Flers was without precedent in war as tank D16 went forward into Flers village just before 8.20am. Firing as it went, the tank lurched up the main street followed by parties of cheering infantry. Three other tanks (D6, D9 and D17) had begun to move along the eastern edge of the village, smashing into strongpoints and houses which contained machine guns, and spreading panic among the defenders who survived. Most of the Bavarians, however, had fled towards Gueudecourt, and although a few parties of desperate men held out for a time, all resistance was at an end by 10am.

Troops with tank Flers-Courcelette 1916
Source:  IWM Q5578

Somme 2023 - Pozières

 The village of Pozières lies on high ground on the Albert-Bapaume Road, north east of La Boisselle and Ovillers. On the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1st July 1916, the three villages were  key objectives that failed to be taken. 

The British launched further attacks to capture La Boisselle, which was secured on 3rd July and Ovillers which which was captured on the 16th July. 

The capture of Pozières was vital for future plans, in particular the capture of the site of a windmill site in order to secure observation of German positions at Thiepval, in the Ancre Valley, and the village of Courcellette.

Pozières Windmill pre WW1

German Defensive Positions Pozières

The capture of Pozières was tasked to the 1st ANZAC Corps, consisting of the 1st, 2nd, and 4th Australian Divisions.  The Aussies began arriving on the 18th July 1916 to prepare for the attack which would be launched on 23rd July. 

Pozières  IJ   Aussie   DM

A preliminary bombardment commenced on the 19th July lasting till the 23rd July. Attacking during the night, the Australians crawled into no mans land behind the bombardment and when it lifted they launched their assault.

They were were able to seize the first set of trenches. They then advanced into Pozières, capturing a German bunker named "Gibraltar"

Pozières Gibraltar Bunker

Pozières Gibraltar Bunker March 2023

The Germans counter attacked three times, intense British artillery and machine gun fire breaking up the assault. The Germans concentrated all available artillery resources on  Pozières, directing constant barrages on the Australians.  When the  1st Australian Division were relieved on the 27th July, they had sustained 5,285 casualties.

 A memorial to the 1st Australian Division is located at the southern end of  Pozières next to the Gibraltar Bunker. 

1st Australian Division Memorial and Gibraltar Bunker

1st Australian Division Memorial 

1st Australian Division Memorial 

1st Australian Division Memorial Plaque

The 1st Australian Division relieved by the the 2nd Australian Division. With fresh troops, the Australians launched an attack on the 29th July to capture the Windmill Site, but it failed with a loss of over 3,500 men. 

Preparations were made to resume the attack, which was launched at dusk on 4th August, the 2nd Australian Division finally capturing the Windmill site. 

Pozières Windmill Site after capture

The exhausted troops were relieved by the  4th Australian Division. The relief was conducted under a heavy German bombardment. By the time the 2nd Australian Division was relieved they had sustained 6,848 casualties. 

A memorial to the 2nd Australian Division was erected on the Windmill Site.

2nd Australian Division Original Memorial

A commemoration stone now marks the site of the original memorial.

Windmill Site March 2023

2nd Australian Division Memorial Stone Windmill Site

2nd Australian Division Memorial Stone 

A German counter attack to dislodge the Australians on the 6th August failed. A further attempt was made on the 7th August, which again failed. The Germans made no further attempts to retake Pozières.