Newfoundland & the Great War (#3) NL Studies 2205

Battle of Beamont Hamel Our focus in this section will be to discuss the Battle of Beaumont Hamel and its historical significance for the people of our province Newfoundland & the Great War

Newfoundland & the Great War Western Front…1916 As 1916 approached, there was still trench deadlock on the Western Front The massive frontal assaults against enemy trenches over the previous two years had failed to bring any substantial gains or military victories The Allies intended to finally break through the German positions by launching simultaneous offensives on the Western, Eastern and Italian Fronts Success from this plan would end the war Newfoundland & the Great War

Newfoundland & the Great War The Somme: Background The Allied victory plans were upset in Feb 1916 when the Germans decided to attack the French fortress town of Verdun The French would never let this location fall to the Germans & would send thousands of troops to their deaths in the defense of this city Verdun was a slaughter that lasted from Feb – Dec 1916 & tied down considerable French forces Newfoundland & the Great War

Newfoundland & the Great War The Somme: Background To keep the French in the war, the British attempted to relieve pressure from the French at Verdun by attacking the Germans at the Somme This would be a British led operation known as “the Big Push” Commanded by Douglas Haig Set to commence on July 1st, 1916 Newfoundland & the Great War

Newfoundland & the Great War The Somme: Planning The British plan included a 7 day artillery barrage of the German lines beginning on June 24th in order to smash the German trenches, the barbed wire, & troops stationed there Huge mines would be exploded underneath the German positions British troops will stay in attacking trench until zero hour when they will go over the top, line up in a series of waves, & walk at a slow pace towards the German trenches (Infantry Charge) Newfoundland & the Great War

The Somme: German Defenses All along the Western Front, the Germans had developed deep underground dugouts on the ground they captured During the week-long British artillery barrage these dugouts protected many of the German soldiers on the Somme front Newfoundland & the Great War

Newfoundland & the Great War The Somme….July 1st, 1916 By July 1st, 1916, 120,000 British troops prepared to attack the German positions & end the trench stalemate On 7:20am the British exploded two mines underneath the German front line trenches & the artillery also stopped firing Newfoundland & the Great War

Newfoundland & the Great War The Somme….July 1st, 1916 For the Germans secure in their dugouts, the mine explosion & the artillery stopping signals that an attack is about to commence. They race up from their shelters & set up their machine guns in preparation of the British attack At 7:30 the British forces go over the top & prepare to cross ‘no man’s land’ Newfoundland & the Great War

Newfoundland & the Great War The Somme….July 1st, 1916 The opening attack was a slaughter By 8 am British forces are being destroyed almost everywhere along the front Approximately 57,000 casualties with 20, 000 dead on this opening day of battle Unfortunately for the NL Regiment, they would see action on July 1st & would suffer some of the greatest losses out of all British forces involved that day Newfoundland & the Great War

The Somme….July 1st, 1916 Newfoundland Regiment The Newfoundlanders were to be in the second wave of attack to move into the German front lines & capture enemy positions near the French town of Beaumont-Hamel For these men waiting in their reserve trenches ….they can’t see what was happening to the first waves of attackers but they can hear the disaster that was unfolding in front of them Newfoundland & the Great War

The Somme….July 1st, 1916 Newfoundland Regiment Because of the failed opening British attack, the Newfoundland attack was initially cancelled but this decision was reversed when a white flare was seen coming from the German front line It was believed to be a signal from British forces calling for reinforcements when in fact it was a German flare redirecting artillery fire on to the British attack The Newfoundlanders were ordered to go & provide assistance Newfoundland & the Great War