Posted By pferguson on May 30, 2023

The Artillery Barrage

Light gauge railways delivered ammunition to the frontline. Prior to the attack on 1 July 1916 a seven-day barrage fired 1.5 million shells. Of these it is estimated 1/3 of them were duds. The Canadian Expeditionary Force’s battalions took part in the Battle of the Somme but much later than the events of July 1916. However, Canadian gunners took part in the barrage 16 July 1916 at Thiepval.

Ordnance on the Somme continues to be encountered. Found in the furrows of farmer’s fields or haphazardly torn from the earth to the surface. Today’s bounty competes for attention amidst the rusted iron shards and unexploded charges. The plough wrenches these iron harvests and after years underground the inedible harvest is despatched for destruction by Ordnance experts. Others, the duds, the unfired rendered inert find their place in exhibitions of the Great War. There appears to be an appetite for destruction – not lost to this wanderer.

Bombardments, the barrage, often failed to cut the wire which in many locations was 20 yards deep necessitating the use of wire cutters to individually cut through single strands of wire so the infantry could advance. Barrages seldom destroyed the deep German dugouts some of which were 40’ deep cut into the chalk landscape. Similarly German concrete fortifications and gun positions were able to withstand this iron battering. Despite the onslaught of artillery against their enemy, British and allied forces were faced with the daunting task of taking well established enemy positions.

Category: Snapshots of the Great War | No Comments »
Tags: Artillery, Barrage, Battle of the Somme, Bombardment, Iron harvest, Ordnance, Railways

Posted By pferguson on April 30, 2023

The Commanders

The Somme was where the British and French armies met occupying a 25-mile front mostly to the north of the River Somme. The battle of 1 July 1916, was the largest operation of the Great War and started with 500,000 men, mostly volunteers of the Pals battalions. The Pals did not have the training of the British regular army whose ranks had been depleted by the summer of 1916. These men of Kitchener’s Army, the Pals, were recruited in local area drives and served with men they knew rather than being allocated to battalions to which they may have no personal affiliation. The inexperience of this new British Army meant there was little flexibility in changing plans.

The ground and the timing was not of the British Army’s choosing but the battle was insisted upon by General Joffre head of the French Army who also drove allied strategy. Haig wanted to attack in August but Joffre was not impressed by the suggestion. If the British Army did not attack in July Joffre felt the French Army who had been defending Verdun since February 1916 would no longer exist.

Haig whose position was not subordinate to Joffre had recently taken over from British Field-Marshall Sir John French. The Somme was Haig’s first campaign in command of the British Army and his leadership continues to be be the subject of considerable debate. Haig was not inclined to listen to subordinates. His tactics favored the unlimited quick breakthrough with cavalry passing through the line.

Sir Henry Rawlinson was one of Haig’s senior army commanders, a subordinate, leading the British Fourth Army. Rawlinson’s command was the main British force of the Somme campaign. The Fourth Army was formed in February 1916 and eleven divisions attacked on the 1 July 1916. Rawlinson in contrast to Haig preferred the tactic of bite and hold – to pulverize the enemy, and occupy trench to trench. The tactics of Haig and Rawlinson clashed and led to strained relations.

Category: Snapshots of the Great War | No Comments »
Tags: Battle of the Somme, British Army, Command, Douglas Haig, French Army, Henry Rawlinson, Joseph Joffre, Leadership, Pals Battalions, Tactics

Posted By pferguson on March 21, 2023

And You Are There With Him

For the recent Western Front Association Pacific Branch conference I was asked to include an operational history of the Battle of the Somme. This was to be the lead for two additional presentations by Ian and Casey Williams of the Paradigm Motion Picture Company. Ian spoke directly about Piper James Cleland Richardson VC Ordinary Boy, Extraordinary Hero and his father, Casey – who provided the keynote address on how to create a meaningful film, It’s One Thing to Tell a Story – It’s Altogether Another To Have the Audience Live It.

The Paradigm team has often chatted via Skype, through emails, phone, etc. to discuss our preparations and thoughts for a forthcoming film. Together we acknowledge that people are more interested in the adventurer than the adventure. It will be a considered production where each frame will have been thought out, after all it’s not just what’s in the foreground…it’s the whole.

And so to the adventurers, in this case veterans of the 16th whose memories are best known to they themselves in what was once a common voice of Kitcheners Wood, Ypres, Regina Trench, Vimy, Cambrai and a thousand other places. Those of us unfamiliar with the time actual and whose knowledge is gathered after the fact can scarce imagine their time. In 1951 these veterans of the 16th marched past Victoria’s Christ Church Cathedral to Pioneer Square where a memorial to the regiment was dedicated.

Years later, October 2003, those who felt a connection to Piper James Cleland Richardson VC turned out in great numbers in Chilliwack for the unveiling of the Richardson statue created by sculptor John Weaver. James may have been the only link to the Somme those in attendance knew. Perhaps others were present who were familiar with the Somme through family stories but no 16th veterans were present. No one was there who met the living James Richardson. And yet it is through James being well known and not forgotten that I choose to turn to the others of Chilliwack’s Somme…

Despite James Cleland Richardson never having lived in Chilliwack he became the town’s son. His parents did live in Chilliwack – Mary and David Richardson having arrived before the commencement of the war whilst James remained at work in Vancouver and a member of the 72nd Cadets (Seaforth Highlanders of Canada).

And who were these sons of Chilliwack’s Somme? These not as well known sons of Chilliwack…of Chilliwack’s 99 Great War names on their war memorial here are the lesser known…

Private Henry Anketell Jones
11 September 1916 (29th Battalion)
Sunken Road Cemetery

Captain Henry J. Tryon
15 September 1916 (15th attached 8th Rifle Brigade)
Thiepval Memorial

Lance Corporal James Stronach
24 September 1916 (29th Battalion)
Vimy Memorial

Private Paul Doutaz
27 September 1916 (7th Battalion)
Regina Trench Cemetery

Private Luke Charles Mahone
31 October 1916 (47th Battalion)
Contay British Cemetery

Private James Morton Atkinson
11 November 1916 (47th Battalion)
Courcelette British Cemetery

Private Harry Ayres
11 November 1916 (47th Battalion)
Vimy Memorial

 Over the next few weeks our blog will describe more of the operational history of the Battle of the Somme. All the while I will think more about these adventurers – the fallen of the Somme whose lives cut short can remain with us as we or rather you are there with him.

 Did You Know?

Operations on the Somme largely occurred north of the river.

The opening Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916, was the largest operation of the Great War.

500,000 personnel were involved at the start along an 18-mile front.

The British and French Armies came together on the frontline just above the River Somme.

The French being on the British right flank.

The first Day of the Battle of the Somme 1 July 1916 is the most frequently discussed of all days of the Somme offensive.

To truly study the battle of the Somme there are 140 other days of conflict in the offensive.

Category: Remember Them Well | No Comments »
Tags: Battle of the Somme, Captain Henry J. Tryon, Chilliwack, Film, Great War Veterans, John Weaver, Lance Corporal James Stronach, Piper James Cleland Richardson VC, Piper Ricahrdson Statue, Piper Richardson Statue, Private Harry Ayres, Private Henry Anketell Jones, Private James Morton Atkinson, Private Luke Charles Mahone, Private Paul Doutaz, River Somme

Posted By pferguson on February 26, 2023

The WVS Never Say No

The Woman’s Voluntary Service (WVS) was founded by Stella Isaacs the Marchioness of Reading in 1938. Both the Times and the Observer newspapers cited two differing Great War services in her 1971 obituaries. The Times reporting her work with the British Red Cross Society and the Observer reporting her work with the Voluntary Aid Detachment which was directed by the Red Cross. Regardless, the Marchioness learned from her wartime experiences providing care to those in need. In 1938 Stella Isaacs was called upon by the British Home Secretary to establish a women’s organization that would help the government and local authorities should war be declared. The impetus for such an organization being well proven with the announcement of war in September 1939.

The work of the WVS was varied providing support and training in Air Raid Precautions, to military personnel, war refugees, the evacuation of civilians and children from targeted cities and assisting vulnerable people. The WVS operated mobile canteens providing both troops and civilians with teas, coffees, sandwiches and biscuits. Their work, especially with bombed out civilians, saw government and local authority funded programs developed to feed, clothe and re-house individuals affected by the many air raids across the country. They delivered water by tankers to areas of need, organized knitting circles creating all manner of comforts for troops and the afflicted, gathered and then re-distributed clothing to those who had lost everything in the bombings.

The WVS was present at British home ports during the return of troops from Dunkirk, at city squares, stations and other posts during the Blitz. And were in the thick of it during the Blitz, as 241 of their members lost their lives. Similarly the WVS repeatedly provided throughout the war their catering expertise including preparations for D-Day and once the Allies were established on the continent took their organization to assist the troops there. Previously the WVS were successful in establishing their systems following the invasion in Italy. During the rocket attacks on London they continued to provide.

In 1942 more than one million women were serving with the WVS across the United Kingdom.  The WVS is now known as the Royal Voluntary Service.

Category: Odds & Ends | No Comments »
Tags: Marchioness of Reading, Never Say No, Stella Isaacs, Women's Voluntary Service

Posted By pferguson on January 29, 2023

Museums…Stories

Such fun to have been on the road, at long last, taking the tube from Embankment to Lambeth North (London) for the walk to the Imperial War Museum. With each stride I am closer to their new exhibitions, eager to see new design, new content. I was not disappointed.

As I wandered the open space and took in one to the other…artifacts selection and mix, layout, fabrication and materials, fonts, mounts, and colour…one aspect stood out for me. Captions!

Here were the stories of the people and their artifacts rather than artifacts and their people. Though I studied all the personal stories I especially enjoyed one about Michael Stockford, a lad who collected candy wrappers during the Second World War. Associated material spoke of the number of American air force personnel stationed in Britain, some 450,000 in 1945. Amongst the wrappers a pamphlet for overseas personnel, This is Britain, A Souvenir for Overseas Forces.

Of the wrappers themselves there are familiar brands Dentyne, Life Savers, Wrigley’s Doublemint. The gathering of wrappers was also a reminder of my early days in Zweibrücken where at the base’s movie theatre my Dad suggested I should paste my confectioner’s wrappers into a scrapbook…I never did…that story remains with me, reborn by Michael Stockford’s collection at the museum.  This is what museums do…this is what story does…they find connection.

Category: Odds & Ends | No Comments »
Tags: American Air Force, Candy Wrappers, Captions, Dentyne, Imperial War Museum, Life Savers, Wrigley's