Lives of the First World War

1st Battalion Somerset Light Infantry. (11th Infantry Brigade 4th Division). Killed in action 1st July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the complicated trench system known as the ‘Quadrilateral’ situated on the Redan Ridge a little to the south of the village of Serre. The Battalion advanced against murderous artillery, machine-gun and rifle fire sustaining 138 minimum killed in action. The Battles of the Somme July 1st-November 18th 1916. The attack on July 1st followed a seven day bombardment of enemy front support and reserve trenches, wire entanglements, artillery positions and dumps. 13 Divisions were assembled for the initial assault which took place along an eighteen mile front from Fonquevillers in the north to the junction with the French Sixth Army around Maricourt, In the north two Territorial Divisions of the Third Army, the 46th (North Midland) and the 56th (London) attacked north and south of Gommecourt in a diversionary operation to hold down enemy troops in that area The attack at Gommecourt went badly. The main attack by Rawlinson’s Fourth Army in order north to south The 48th (South Midland) remained inactive. The 31st Division attacked opposite the village of Serre. The 4th Division attacked the area around the Quadrilateral and the Redan Ridge north of Beaumont-Hamel and south of Serre. The 1st Somerset Light Infantry amongst other battalions of the brigade succeeded in occupying the Quadrilateral but its hold was precarious despite reinforcements it was vacated by the evening of the 1st July. The 29th Division attacked east of Beaumont-Hamel A mine containing 40,000 pounds of Ammonal was exploded under the enemy front line trenches. Very heavy fighting incurred heavy loss on this division’s front.The Division’s casualties were the second highest of the day 5,240. The Newfoundland Battalion attacking “Y” Ravine sustained over 700 casualties. The Division’s objectives were not taken. The 36th Division attacked from the edge of Thiepval Wood toward the Schwaben and Stuff Redoubts, heavy casualties were sustained by fire and also from Thiepval village as the Ulstermen advanced toward their objectives. The Schwaben redoubt was occupied but the attackers were pinned down in front of uncut wire in front of the enemy second line The 32nd Division attacked the Leipzig Salient and the” Wunder Werke” from Authuille Wood Heavy machine-gun fire caused very severe casualties, pinned down the attackers in ‘no mans land’ and progress was impossible. The 8th Division attacked up Mash Valley toward Ovillers-La-Boiselle and the Poziers Ridge.. The 34th Division attacked La Boiselle astride the road in the direction of Poziers Ridge. The exploding of two huge mines at La Boiselle (Lochnager Crater) and “Y” Sap on either side of the village shortly before zero hour The 34th Division suffered 6,800 casualties the heaviest of the day. The 21st Division attacked and captured ground north of Fricourt and took the village of Contalmaison. The 7th Division ( 9th Devons and 2nd Gordon Highlanders) attacking from Mansell copse succeeded in taking the village of Mametz in the face of heavy fire from Mametz, Danzig Alley and Fricourt Wood. The 18th attacked on the 30th Division’s left flank toward Pommiers Trench and Montauban Alley The 30th captured the remains of the village of Montauban and captured Montauban Alley the enemy’s last line of defence . British troops now had the advantage of a line overlloking a wide open valley. This was the great success of the day Albert Helyal was the was the 30 year old son of James and Caroline Helyal, of 25, Great Western Terrace, Pen Mill, Yeovil, Somerset. Thiepval Memorial to the ‘Missng’ of the Somme.

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