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THE 56TH (1ST London) DIVISION At Gommecourt, 1st July 1916 1916


This book appears as one of many published to coincide with the 90th anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of the Somme. For this reason it runs the risk of being overlooked, and that would indeed be a shame, for this book deserves consideration from a large Great War readership; which might occasionally be heard to mutter “Oh no not another book on the battle of the Somme”
The author Bill MacCormick (writing under the family pseudonym Alan MacDonald) has produced a real labour of love in this exhaustive account of the London Division at Gommecourt. Initially inspired on discovering a distant relative, who was killed whilst serving with the 1/9th London’s, he wanted to learn more about the diversion at Gommecourt. The result is an account of one Division’s experiences, in an often overlooked part of the tragedy that was the first day on the Somme.
The opening chapters describe the overall planning for the battle, moving on to explain why the Gommecourt diversion was added. The terrain and defenders are covered in some detail, and enhanced with the use of good contemporary German photographs of the village and defending trenches. Excellent use is made of a range of maps, especially present day IGN maps overlaid with the trenches. The following chapters focus on the London Division itself with its arrival on the Somme front, and its subsequent movements. The time leading up to the battle is recorded in diary form, making extensive use of the battalion and brigade War diaries; neatly dovetailed here is an illuminating account of the difficulties of the artillery preparation. The heart of the book is the description of the battle and the fighting throughout the day. This is covered in great detail and compassion, the emphasis always shifting to the officers and men of both sides who took part. The closing chapters deal with the casualties, with a poignant collection of photographs of the ”fallen at Gommecourt”. To conclude the book there are numerous appendices amongst which is a very useful battlefield and cemetery guide, as well as an excellent order of battle, a bibliography and what no good book can do without - a good index.
I must confess that I have despaired in the past in the seeming neglect of any aspect of the Great War save the Somme and Passchendale; but the tragedy of the first day and its arresting landscape has always held a lingering fascination for me. Revisionists will not find this an easy book; the author holds passionate and sincere opinions on the conduct and planning of the diversion, and pulls no punches in passing judgement. So be it say I, this is a finely written, meticulously researched book, which I have no hesitation in recommending.

Reviewer: Wayne Young