Night raid on the Leipzig Salient (5 June 1916): Difference between revisions

By June 1916 work on the "Big Push" was well under way although only a few high ranking officers knew of the exact date this major offensive was to happen. The first few days saw the [[Lonsdale Battalion|Lonsdales]], along with their comrades of the [[Glossary:Brigade, 97th|97th Brigade]], the 16th and 17th Highland Light Infantry and the 2nd King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, form part of Divisional Reserve at Bouzincourt. During this time the days were quiet inasmuch as there was no involvement in any particular action worthy of note. However, for three weeks prior a volunteer group of Lonsdales, under the Command of Lieut. William Barnes, had spent much of that time training for what was hoped a successful outcome in discovering the dispositions of the German trenches at the strong-hold along the [[Glossary:Leipzig Salient|Leipzig Salient]]. It was already documented as position of strength, held on the higher ground overlooking the British positions across No Man’s Land towards the village of [[Glossary:AuhtuilleAuthuille|Authuille]] and [[Glossary:Authuille Wood|Authuille Wood]]. But there had been some unusual activity observed and it was unclear as to what what happening on the German side.