Somme Battle Plan: You have…

Study the Source. Study the Source. What does it suggest happened What does it suggest happened at the Battle of the Somme?at the Battle of the Somme?

From the RGA 69From the RGA 69thth Siege Battery Siege Battery, 25th to 30th June 1916.

What went wrong at the Battle of the Somme?

The Somme Battle Plan: The Reality

1. 8 day heavy artillery bombardment to kill/shell shock the German soldiers and break through their barbed wire.2. Mining tunnels were dug underneath the

German lines and mines were set to explode 2 mins before the main attack began.3. Soldiers were heavily loaded with equipment (including field dressings and gas mask) and ordered to walk across No Man’s land towards the German trenches.

Battle of the Somme: The Facts

• 1st July – 18th Nov 1916• Aimed to force a breakthrough

through the German trenches to win the war.

• 60 000 British soldiers killed, wounded or missing on the first day.

• 712/780 Newfoundland soldiers killed or wounded.

• By the end of the Battle, British forces had penetrated 6miles into German territory.

Battle of the Somme

1,732,873 – number of shells in the preliminary bombardment.

19,240 – the number of British Army soldiers killed on the first day of the

battle.

159 – the number of men from 9th Battalion Devonshire Regiment killed by

one German machine gun at Fricourt Wood.

British Army HQ: Battle Report

Reporting to:Reported by:

Date of Battle:

Location:Outline of Plan of Attack:

Problems with the Attack:

Final Outcome:

Recommendations:

OROR

Finish Finish your diary your diary

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informatioinformation from thn from the e Somme Somme (1(1stst July July 1916)1916)