Tigers on Bazentin Ridge

TIGERS ON BAZENTIN RIDGE

What follows describes a walk that may be taken to commemorate the action of the 110^th (Leicestershire) Brigade between the 14^th and 17^th July 1916.

Starting in Mametz the circular route covers approximately five miles of easy walking with no significant gradients. For the most part it follows roads and tracks but in one section ‘the right of way’ is uncertain and any one wishing to cover the same ground must bear in mind its unofficial nature. Underfoot it will remain dry unless subjected to recent and heavy rain but walking boots or stout shoes are recommended. There are no opportunities for refreshments so everything that might be needed will have to be carried. A map and compass are not required for navigation but will help provide context; and binoculars will improve appreciation of the terrain. The ‘Serie Bleu’ map 'Bray-Sur-Somme' (2408E) is of a sufficiently large scale (1: 25000) to identify all the significant landmarks and is available from www.stanfords.co.uk
A history of the 110^th Brigade can be found in ‘The Tigers’ by Matthew Richardson and published by Leo Cooper. This in combination with ‘Bazentin Ridge’ by Edward Hancock in the ‘Battleground Europe’ series, also published by Leo Cooper, will provide a comprehensive account of the events that took place in the area to be visited.

THE WALK

Parking the car in Mametz, an objective for the 7^th Division on 1^st July, the village is left northwards, past a water tower, and continuing on a gentle downhill slope. After a short distance Contalmaison can be seen on the next ridge with the mass of Mametz Wood to its right and Bazentin le Petit beyond. As the road forks the right-hand branch is taken and shortly a sign indicating the direction of the memorial to the 38^th (Welsh) Division is reached. This should be passed to the left and after 200 yards step off the road onto a track which continues northward following a declivity uphill toward the western edge of Mametz Wood.

Pausing here allows a chance to view the area occupied by the brigade between 10^th and 12^th July after their journey south to the Somme valley from Monchy au Bois and transfer to the 21st Division http://21stdivision1914-18.org/ .To the West is Bottom Wood and to the North-West, alongside the Contalmaison road, Quadrilateral Copse can be seen, beyond this, on the rising ground trenches occupied by the 7^th Leicesters were sited. At Longitude E 002o 44.499’ Latitude N 50o 00.677’ is a brick lined vertical chamber the probable remains of a German machine-gun position or sniper-post. This would have commanded views of any approach from the direction of Mametz village and formed part of the defence works which took such a terrible toll of the Welshmen of the 38^th Division.

The path is somewhat indistinct at this point and right of passage uncertain but by keeping to the right edge of the declivity a wide track is soon gained. Careful scrutiny over the next 200 yards might yield a find of shrapnel balls or possibly cartridge cases before the South-West corner of Mametz Wood is reached.
The 110^th Brigade passed by this wood on the night of 13/14^th July as they approached their jumping off point. This was the scene of much severe fighting over the previous days and a description of its macabre atmosphere and sights may be found in Robert Graves ‘Goodbye to all that’.
Passing along the western edge of the wood glimpses of the interior show the results of concentrated shellfire on the still scarred ground. All around lie rusting pieces of shell case and intact shells are not uncommon. That these have lain dormant for over ninety years does not reduce their potential to affect the lethal purpose for which they were manufactured.

Eventually the road between Contalmaison and Longueval is reached at a point in line with the left flank of the whole attack. Turning right allows one to follow first, the start line of the 8^th battalion and then, as a track opens on the left, the 7^th battalion frontage is reached. As the view opens towards Longueval the ground covered by the attacking troops can be appreciated.


The Southern Edge of Bazentin Wood Looking towards Longueval.	Looking towards Montauban from the Southern edge of Bazentin Wood

The wide track in line with the western edge of Bazentin le Petit Wood follows the route of a German light railway and this is taken to reach the southern edge of the wood. Turning right it is possible, with care, to follow the edge of the wood to the very epicentre of the battle. Standing and looking back towards Mametz wood gives some small idea of the view seen by the defenders as dawn broke on that July morning. Retracing steps back to the corner of the wood a right turn leads along its western edge and to the left can be seen the area of Aston and Villa trenches attacked by the 8^th battalion. It was here that their commander Colonel Mignon died, according to one witness, ‘leading a bombing party like a subaltern’.The northwest corner of the wood was the last portion to fall and the scene of much desperate fighting. A machine gun position to the immediate front and about 200 yards away poured intense fire into the wood against any attack approaching this last German foothold.

Following around the northern edge a bridle path opens to the right and it is possible to venture deep into the centre of Bazentin le Petit Wood; if, however, one resists the temptation to trespass a path continues toward the village and it may be noted how 'barbed wire pickets' have been incorporated into the modern fence. At the northern crossroads High Wood can be seen across the fields. Unoccupied by the Germans for a brief period late on the 14^th July the opportunity was missed in the confusion of primitive communications and it was soon to gain its own grim reputation as a result. Going south the entrance to a small military cemetery is passed on the right and the church comes into view. This was an objective for the 2^nd Irish Regiment on the 14^th July and they were relieved four days later by the 2^nd Royal Welch Fusiliers. One of the officers of D Company was Captain Robert Graves and included in his many vivid recollections is a hurried company commander’s conference amongst the ruins of this churchyard.
Continuing south a path leaves the road and goes downhill towards the Contalmaison Longueval road and when this is reached, and crossed, the path continues it’s downwards trend. On the left is Bazentin le Grand Wood from which the Germans directed a withering fire into the right flank of the Leicesters 6^th Battalion until dislodged by troops of the 7^th Division

Flat Iron Copse was the site of a dressing station and, as was often the case, bodies removed from the battlefield were added to those of their comrades who had succumbed to wounds too severe for the medical staff to save. Later, when the Commonwealth War Graves Commission took over responsibility, they created one of the military cemeteries whose poignancy strikes everyone who visits. Of the five hundred Leicesters who perished on Bazentin Ridge less than one hundred could be identified and many lie in this spot.


Flat Iron Copse Cemetery.	View towards Flat Iron Copse Cemetery along “Death Valley”

Leaving the quiet of Flat Iron Copse Cemetery southward along what became known as Death Valley Mametz Wood rises on the right. It was across this ground that many of the 38^th Division’s attacks were made and thus the valley acquired its morbid title. After four hundred yards a red dragon may be seen rising above the trees and this commemorates the action of the Welsh Division. Climbing up to the base of the memorial affords a good view of the surrounding area with all its sanguine associations.

Stepping back down a metalled surface is soon underfoot and this is followed to the left and uphill. The ridge line to the left marks the support positions of the German lines prior to the opening day of the Somme battle on July 1^st.
After a short while the sign marking the direction of the Welsh Division Memorial, and met on the outward journey, is reached and from this point steps are retraced keeping left and ever upwards until Mametz is regained.

Memorial to 38^th (Welsh) Division

THE COST.
When the Leicestershire Brigade was relieved and withdrawn from the line at 8:30am on 17^th July the cost of the previous three days became apparent to the survivors. Arriving to bivouac in Fricourt the roll call revealed a total of 90 officers and 1917 men absent from the ranks. The Somme campaign was eventually closed down in November and the action of 14/17^th July proved to be among the most successful of the whole affair. The wood/village complex of Bazentin le Petit was a fearsome obstacle and yet the 110^th Brigade secured all its objectives and then held them against fierce German counter attacks. The very success has perhaps caused its memory to be lost amongst the failure and sacrifice that marked the opening day of the Somme battle and subsequent attacks against High Wood and Deville Wood. The service battalions gained a new battle honour for the Leicestershire Regiment in this small part of France and as the war progressed so its proud traditions would continue to be maintained.

IN MEMORY OF

THE FRIENDS AND COMRADES

PTE. THOMAS H. STEVENS

7^TH BTLN

LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT

14^TH JULY 1916

‘LES TIGRES’

Our own memorial to the 7^th battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment was placed at Longitude E 002o 45.222’ Latitude N 50o 01.649’. Any information on its survival or any other comments please mailto:peter.stevens3@tesco.net’.

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