8th Battalion in the Battle of the Somme (Second & Third Phase): Difference between revisions

The second phase of the Battle of the Somme started on the [[23 July]] 1916, and for the purpose of this brief history it should be noted that the [[8th Border Regiment]] did not actively take part, however, this does not mean that their involvement was any less important. Only two battalions of the Border Regiment effectively took part in this phase, namely the [[2nd Border Regiment|2nd]] and [[7th Border Regiment|7th]] Battalions, but it could be stated that their successes were emphatically linked to the efforts of the other battalions along different parts of the line. At the end of the first phase the 25th Division, to which the 8th Borders belonged, were relieved by the 48th Division and at this time moved to a location not far from Beauval where they held a sector of the line from the River Ancre running in northwards direction. Between the [[23 July]] and [[10 August]] this section of line was held without any physical offensive operations taking place, yet much work was done by way of digging new assembly [[trench|trenches]] (which were later used for attacking German defences south of here and in the fighting on Beaumont Hamel) and providing assistance for other units when it was required. It was also around this time that [[trench mortarsmortar]]s were used against the 25th Division, which in itself is nothing particularly unusual, however, this was the first time the enemy had used [[mustard gas|poison-gas]], a new weapon that had a dramatic and devastating effect on trench warfare.