Battle of Mouquet Farm
Encyclopedia
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.
. 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.
During the battle, the three Australia
n 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. 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.
I Anzac Corps suffered approximately 6,300 casualties and was so depleted that they had to be taken off the front for two months. As that battle dragged on, the Canadian Corps
took over from the Australians, who were withdrawn on 5 September. 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
.
Battle of the Somme (1916)
The Battle of the Somme , also known as the Somme Offensive, took place during the First World War between 1 July and 14 November 1916 in the Somme department of France, on both banks of the river of the same name...
and followed the Battle of Pozières
Battle of Pozières
The Battle of Pozières was a two week struggle for the French village of Pozières and the ridge on which it stands, during the middle stages of the 1916 Battle of the Somme. Though British divisions were involved in most phases of the fighting, Pozières is primarily remembered as an Australian battle...
. The farm was eventually captured on 26 September by No. 16 Section of the 6th East Yorkshire Pioneers.
Battle
Mouquet Farm was located about 1.7 kilometres (1.1 mi) north-west of the high ground near PozièresPozières
Pozières is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:The commune is situated on the D929 road, some northeast of Amiens between Albert and Bapaume, on the Pozières ridge.-Population:-History:...
. 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
Salients, re-entrants and pockets
A salient is a battlefield feature that projects into enemy territory. The salient is surrounded by the enemy on three sides, making the troops occupying the salient vulnerable. The enemy's line facing a salient is referred to as a re-entrant...
that had developed around the German-held fortress of Thiepval
Thiepval
The Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme is a major war memorial to 72,191 missing British and South African men who died in the Battles of the Somme of the First World War between 1915 and 1918 who have no known grave...
. By capturing Mouquet Farm, the British hoped that it would destabilise the German position and enable subsequent gains.
During the battle, the three Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n divisions of I Anzac Corps
I Anzac Corps
The I ANZAC Corps was a combined Australian and New Zealand army corps that served during World War I.It was formed in Egypt in February 1916 as part of the reorganisation and expansion of the Australian Imperial Force and the New Zealand Expeditionary Force following the evacuation of Gallipoli...
—the 1st
1st Division (Australia)
The 1st Division is the main formation of the Australian Army and contains the majority of the army's regular forces. Its headquarters is in Enoggera, a suburb of Brisbane...
, 2nd and 4th Divisions—advanced northwest along the Pozières ridge towards the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
strongpoint of Mouquet Farm, with British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
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. 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.
I Anzac Corps suffered approximately 6,300 casualties and was so depleted that they had to be taken off the front for two months. As that battle dragged on, the Canadian Corps
Canadian Corps
The Canadian Corps was a World War I corps formed from the Canadian Expeditionary Force in September 1915 after the arrival of the 2nd Canadian Division in France. The corps was expanded by the addition of the 3rd Canadian Division in December 1915 and the 4th Canadian Division in August 1916...
took over from the Australians, who were withdrawn on 5 September. 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
Battle of Thiepval Ridge
The Battle of Thiepval Ridge was the first large offensive mounted by the British Reserve Army of Lieutenant General Hubert Gough during the Battle of the Somme and was designed to benefit from British Fourth Army's Battle of Morval by starting 24 hours afterwards...
.
| |
|