The Battle of the Somme — Part 3

The Big Push

July 1st 1916 was the date selected by General Haig to launch his ‘big push’ and break through the German lines. To this end there had been continuous shelling of the German trenches for a week. Haig was assured that this unprecedented bombardment would have killed most of the German defenders and demoralized those who remained alive. The General Staff expected it be a ‘walk in the park’ and ordered the infantry to carry many days of supplies with them, to ensure that the advance could continue. Each infantryman was laden with up to 75lbs (35kg) of supplies, ammunition, and equipment, an absurd load to carry into battle.

The reality was very different. Yes, the Germans were cowering in their dugouts[i], scared, and expecting the worst. But they had deep bunkers, built into the chalk hillside, reinforced with timber and concrete. With typical Teutonic preparedness they had been practicing for exactly such an advance and were ready to scramble up, bringing their weapons with them to replet the attack.

Dawn breaks

Sunrise on July 1st was at 3:49 am, according to Richard’s war diary. (Daylight Saving Time had been introduced on May 21st 1916[ii] but it only applied to civilians.) H-Hour, when the offensive would be launched, was set for 7:30 am. Rudra[iii] recalls: ‘Early on the morning we were made to line up along the parapet . . . . I remember it was a beautiful summer’s day and I wondered how it would end.

‘As soon as we had scrambled up and began our charge, we began to be mowed down by enemy machine guns.’ The Germans defenders obviously had ample time to leave their bunkers and man their weapons once the barrage stopped.

British troops advanced in line towards the German trenches on July 1st 1916. Courtesy National Army Museum

‘The troops ahead of us were being cut down almost to a man,’ recalls Rudra. ‘Then we saw an extraordinary sight. A Highland (Scots) Regiment in their kilts and plaids advancing line by line, perfectly dressed, their pipers playing them on. They marched resolutely to their deaths in drill formation.’ Only one sergeant and 11 men of that Scots battalion would survive the attack.

The remnants of the Scots regiment being piped back to the rear. Picture by Thomas Green