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Lonsdale Battalion events that took place on 1 July.
For events that took place elsewhere, see 1 July on The Great War wiki.

1916

• At 8am the Lonsdales are in relatively good spirits and begin to advance (30 minutes after Zero Hour) from their assembly trenches in Authuille Wood.
• At 8:30am (60 minutes after Zero Hour) Colonel Machell gives the final order to advance towards the British front line.
• The adjoining 8th Division to the south opposite Ovillers fails to take the German strong-point known as the 'Nord-Werk'. This proves fatal to the Battalion.
• Moving out in formation, German enfilading fire from the Nord-Werk hits the Battalion with a devastating force, killing and wounding hundreds of men before they reach their own front line.
• Lt-Col. Machell survives the first lethal machine gun fire, then is killed as he climbs the parapet to advance his remaining men.
  • "Col. Machell, gallantly leading his men, was shot dead almost immediately after leaving the forward trench.; his adjutant, Lieutenant Gordon, was severely wounded, as he stooped over his body; Major Diggle, the second in command, was already wounded."
• The Lonsdales advance across No Man’s Land without a higher ranking officer to lead them.
• "On leaving their trenches in the wood, even before arriving at the front British trench, the battalion came under terrific machine-gun fire—the shell fire was practically negligible while such musketry as came in it’s direction was too high. There was no question of flinching; the companies, men dropping every moment, moved steadily on, and, on leaving the advanced British trench, pushed on straight to their front for a time and then, as had been ordered, wheeled eastward. The attacking line, supported by the Lonsdales, was having a hard fight to try and reach the German trenches, but few were able to go so far since the enemy machine guns were taking a terrible toll, moving down the men in scores and causing very heavy losses."
• The Battalion suffers 24 officers and 490 other ranks either killed, missing or wounded.

1917

• Battalion in occupation of the 'C' Sub-sector of Nieuport-Lombardzyde Sector. Two companies hold the 1st, 2nd and 3rd lines. 2 Companies in support.
• Day is moderately quiet. Pont Pastre and Nose Lane are shelled and damaged during morning. Enemy is inactive except for shelling.

1918

• Battalion training continues with 1st Battalion 130th Infantry Regiment (USA) at Ailly-le-Haut-Clocher.