Part of the Battle of the Somme of World War I
Battle of the Somme
Main battles in small caps and other engagements below:
Albert – Bazentin Ridge – Delville Wood – Pozières Ridge – Guillemont – Ginchy – Flers-Courcelette – Morval – Thiepval Ridge – Transloy Ridges – Ancre Heights – Ancre
Montauban – Mametz – Fricourt – Contalmaison – la Boiselle – Gommecourt – Longueval – Trônes Wood – Ovillers – Fromelles – High Wood – Mouquet Farm – Martinpuich – Combles– Lesboeufs – Gueudecourt – Eaucourt l'Abbaye – le Sars – Butte de Warlencourt– Schwaben – Stuff Redoubts – Regina Trench – Beaumont Hamel
Order of Battle
The Battle of Mouquet Farm, which began on 5 August 1916, was part of the Battle of the Somme and followed the Battle of Pozières. The farm was eventually captured on 26 September by No. 16 Section of the 6th East Yorkshire Pioneers.[1]
Mouquet Farm was located about 1.7 kilometres (1.1 mi) north-west of the high ground near Pozières. Following the fighting that had occurred around the village earlier in the year, the decision was made by the British to gain control of the ridge beyond the village in order to create a gap in the German lines, behind the salient that had developed around the German-held fortress of Thiepval. By capturing Mouquet Farm, the British hoped that it would destabilise the German position and enable subsequent gains.[2]
During the battle, the three Australian divisions of I Anzac Corps—the 1st, 2nd and 4th Divisions—advanced northwest along the Pozières ridge towards the German strongpoint of Mouquet Farm, with British divisions supporting on the left. The approach to the farm, however, was under observation from German artillery spotters who were able to call down barrages on the attackers from three sides of the salient that had developed in the lines.[3] This resulted in heavy casualties amongst the attackers before they even reached the farm, however, over the course of August and into September, the Australian divisions managed to reach the farm three times, only to be forced back each time.[4]
I Anzac Corps suffered approximately 6,300 casualties and was so depleted that they had to be taken off the front for two months.[5] As that battle dragged on, the Canadian Corps took over from the Australians, who were withdrawn on 5 September.[6] However, by the time the battle concluded in mid-September, the German garrison still held out. The farm was eventually captured on 26 September following the general attack of the Battle of Thiepval Ridge.[7]
Aerial photograph of Mouquet Farm and defences in June 1916 (North at top). Ruins of farmhouse buildings are rectangular area at lower centre. Trench across top right is the western end of "Fabeck Graben". Trench at top left heading NNW is "Zollern Redoubt". From lower centre a road no longer existing runs ENE to Courcelette; road at bottom heads SE towards Pozieres; road running WSW at bottom left connects with Thiepval-Pozieres road. The allies attacked from South to North, British on left and Australians in centre and right
Same area in September after shelling. The original farm building area is today clear land and the farm buildings were rebuilt south of the road
See also
Battle of the Somme: order of battle
Notes
^ WO 95/1804 War Diary 6th East Yorkshire Pioneers. Entry 26 September 1916.
^ Coulthard-Clark 1998, p. 119.
^ Grey 2008, p. 103.
^ Odgers 1994, p. 93.
^ Odgers 1994, p. 94.
^ Coulthard-Clark 1998, p. 120.
^ "Battle of Mouquet Farm, France, 5 August – 5 September 1916". Department of Defence (Australia). Archived from the original on 15 April 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2009.
References
Coulthard-Clark, Chris (1998). Where Australians Fought: The Encyclopaedia of Australia's Battles (1st ed.). St Leonards, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86448-611-2.
Grey, Jeffrey (2008). A Military History of Australia (3rd ed.). Melbourne: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521697910.
Odgers, George (1994). Diggers: The Australian Army, Navy and Air Force in Eleven Wars. Sydney: Lansdowne Publishing. ISBN 1863023852.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Mouquet_Farm