Review of 'The 21st Division on the Somme, 1916' by Dr Derek Clayton (March 2020)

The 21st Division, part of Kitchener’s Third New Army, K3, saw action at Loos in 1915 before preparing for the Battle of the Somme. In early 1916 there were two important changes to the 21st Division: Major-General Forestier-Walker was replaced by Major-General David Campbell (previously GOC 6th Cavalry Brigade) and each of the brigades received a regular battalion in place of a Kitchener battalion, 1st Lincolns replaced the 8th East Yorks in 62nd Brigade, the 4th Middlesex replaced the 12th West Yorks in 63rd Brigade and 1st East Yorks replaced the 14th DLI in 64th Brigade.

On 1 July, 21st Division and 7th Division, both part of XV Corps (GOC Lt-General H Horne), were tasked with taking Fricourt and Mametz spurs. 63rd and 64th brigades attacked at 0730 with 62nd brigade in reserve. 50th brigade from 7th division was instructed to co-ordinate with 63rd brigade by outflanking the village of Fricourt and meeting up at Bottom Wood, to the east of Fricourt.

The night before the attack, at the final dinner, the senior captain of 9th KOYLI had refused to toast the CO of the battalion, Lt-Col Lynch – a most unpopular officer - and had proposed the toast ‘When the barrage lifts’ instead. Lynch was not all bad, he had ordered a sap to be dug into No Man’s Land before the attack so that his men emerged onto the battlefield without being seen climbing out of their tranches.

The artillery barrage lifted too soon for the attacking troops and many men became casualties to German machine gun fire and shrapnel. Lynch was one of many being killed as he left the trench. Initial progress was held up but still many troops reached the German front line. Unfortunately mopping up was poor and casualties were taken from German troops emerging from deep dug outs after the first troops had passed them. In the reserve brigade (62nd), the 10th Yorkshire were ordered into the line to follow the 4th Middlesex.

As machine gun swept across the front line, men did not leave their trench as fast as the officers wished. Major Loudon-Shand leapt onto the parapet and helped his men over it while encouraging them to move forward. He was hit but continued to rally his men after being propped up in the trench until he died. For this action he was awarded a posthumous VC.  Eventually the troops who reached the sunken lane regrouped without their officers (all casualties) waiting for either reinforcements or new orders from officers in the rear.  50th brigade fared little better, taking heavy casualties from machine gun fire. Brigadier-General Headlam (CO 64th Brigade) now came forward to view the advance and then gave orders for a further attack later in the afternoon. Relief came after nightfall when the troops did link up behind Fricourt. As a result, the German garrison in the village surrendered.  In all the division took over 5,800 casualties – 80% of the officers and 60% of the other ranks.

The 21st division were pulled out of the line and 63rd Brigade was replaced by 110th Brigade, which was made up of battalions from the Leicestershire regiment. By the time the 21st Division went back into the line, the BEF had advanced north east of Fricourt and Mametz and were poised for an attack on the Bazentin Ridge with XV Corps attacking from Mametz Wood. Haig & Rawlinson agreed on a new strategy – increased artillery especially counter-battery fire with troops moving into No Man’s Land before dawn and attacking at 3.30am after a short hurricane artillery bombardment.

Three battalions of the Leicestershire Regiment attacked in the early hours of July 14th, they advanced uphill until they reached the German Lines. 8th Leics, having arrived and taken possession of the trench moved left and the 11th Leics moved right. They were now in the wood advancing towards Bazentin-le Petit (NE) and towards Bazentin-le-Grand (East). Casualties were still taken from German machine gun fire, some of it coming from platforms raised up in the wood. Eventually the wood was cleared of Germans, and the 6thLeics were able to take Bazentin-le-Petit by late afternoon. Casualties were still high, 76% of officers became casualties as were 61% of other ranks.

The 21st Division were next involved in the Battle of Flers-Courcelette (the tank battle) on 16th September 1916, the division were not involved in the first day of the battle but went into action on 16th September for the attack on Guedecourt. 64th Brigade received orders very late to advance to the front line, they moved forward at 0200 with a ‘jumping off’ time of 0645 Moving forward without artillery support but behind tanks (which were knocked out before reaching their objective) the advance eventually petered out and the men pulled back after dark. Guedecourt was not taken in this attack. On the 25th September a fresh attack was ordered for both 64th and 110th brigades and, after advancing on the German lines, many of them reached their objective and troops were able to clear enemy from their right flank. 110 Brigade had  had to deepen their jumping off trenches before the attack as the designated ‘trenches’ were barely 6in deep.

The first troops to reach the German trenches dug in and held their line once again until dark. Many troops of 64th Brigade had been unable to reach the German line and were pinned down, by machine gun fire, in shell holes where the wire had not been cut.

Once again, the two brigades were ordered to attack the following morning (26th September) and troops advanced with tank support. This time the men reached the German front line and cleared the dugouts so they could continue their advance on Guedecourt. This time the village was taken by men from the 110 Brigade as German troops in key positions (such as point 91) were outflanked and retreated. Eventually cavalry could advance into the village and probe further towards adjacent villages. 21st Division took over 4,000 casualties during the fighting in September.

21st Division were pulled out of the Somme area to rest near Abbevile. They would next be involved in the Battle for Arras in April 1917.

Report by Peter Palmer