8th Battalion in the Battle of the Somme (First Phase): Difference between revisions

 

Another attack was put into action and the 8th Borders, who had done sterling work the day before, had to advance further still from their newly acquired trench. Advancing towards the enemy's new trench was met with deadly machine gun fire both highly accurate and thunderous in force. Although Lieutenants Thomson and Stewart from 'B' and 'D' Companies respectively managed to close in to within 50 yards of the well-defended trenches, they had to retire. Moving back to and holding the German trenches the 8th Borders had already taken was much easier and ultimately much safer too. The ground here was difficult to win simply owing to the very nature of the complex and extremely well dug-in enemy trenches and machine gun emplacements that commanded superiority over the land. The fighting here drew some of the attention away from other areas of the line and while neither the 7th or 75th Brigade had complete successes in their objectives, on a smaller scale partial successes at least were achieved. The men of the [[8th Border Regiment]] remained in the German trenches and defended it until the 17th July after which they marched to Senlis and bivouacked, needing a much deserved rest. As for the action described above, this was the 8th Border's part in the first phase of the Battle of the Somme.

 

== References / notes ==