Battle of the Somme
Between July and November 1916, British and French forces fought the German army near the Somme River in northern France. The Battle of the Somme became one of the First World War's largest, bloodiest, and most defining conflicts. Read on to discover more about the battle and nineteen St Ives men who died.
 |
| British soldiers go over the top at the Battle of the Somme. |
Cause
By late 1915, Allied leaders needed a way to break the deadlock on the Western Front. At a conference in Chantilly, they agreed to attack together across several fronts to restrict Germany's ability to redeploy troops.
Plans changed when the German army attacked Verdun in February 1916. With French troops suffering heavy casualties, General Joseph Joffre asked the British to launch their offensive early. What began as a French led plan became a major British effort to draw German forces away from Verdun.
Prior Conditions
By mid 1916, a vast network of trenches stretched from the Swiss border to the North Sea. Along the high ground of the Somme valley, the German military spent two years building formidable defences. Their positions included concrete dugouts up to 40 feet underground, deep layers of barbed wire, and carefully placed machine gun posts.
 |
| German defences ready for the British attack. |
Meanwhile, the British forces had changed completely. Heavy losses earlier in the war meant the army now relied on Kitchener's Army, made up of keen but inexperienced volunteers. Many joined local Pals Battalions alongside friends, neighbours, and workmates. Their morale was high, but they had little experience in attacking such strong positions.
Start
At 07:30 on 1 July 1916, the battle began after a massive seven day bombardment. Allied leaders thought firing over 1.5 million shells would crush the German defences, cut the barbed wire, and destroy deep shelters, allowing soldiers to cross No Man's Land easily.
The strategy failed terribly. Many shells failed to explode, and the artillery was not heavy enough to break through deep dugouts or clear wire. As the shelling stopped, German soldiers left their underground shelters and set up machine guns before the British troops reached them.
 |
| British artillery pounds the German trenches. |
Progress
After the failed opening assault, the battle dragged on for over four months. Fighting broke down into a series of fierce local struggles for key villages, woods, and ridges. During July and August, heavy combat focused on securing the high ground around Bazentin Ridge, Ovillers, Pozières, and Delville Wood. On 14 July, a surprise dawn attack at Bazentin Ridge showed that British tactics were improving, securing brief local gains.
On 15 September, at the Battle of Flers Courcelette, the British army used tanks for the first time. They were slow and broke down often, but they proved the potential of armoured warfare. By autumn, heavy rain turned the battlefield into deep mud. Moving troops, supplies, and big guns became almost impossible, bringing the offensive to a painful halt.
 |
| A British tank at the Battle of the Somme. |
Heroes
The Battle of the Somme saw countless acts of bravery and quiet determination. Fifty one Victoria Crosses were awarded to men who showed exceptional courage during the fighting.
Among them was Captain Noel Chavasse of the Royal Army Medical Corps. He earned his first Victoria Cross by repeatedly heading into No Man's Land under heavy fire to rescue wounded soldiers, despite being hit himself.
Frontline officers also showed tactical skill, developing the creeping barrage to protect advancing troops with moving shellfire. Elsewhere, units like the Pals Battalions and the 1st Newfoundland Regiment moved forward together against heavy machine gun fire, showing extraordinary loyalty to one another.
Villains
Historians often focus on systemic mistakes rather than personal failure, though key leaders faced harsh criticism. General Sir Douglas Haig, leading British forces, drew heavy fire for sticking to rigid plans, overestimating his artillery, and pushing costly attacks long after a breakthrough was impossible.
On the German side, General Erich von Falkenhayn ordered immediate counterattacks for every piece of lost ground. This relentless approach caused vast numbers of unnecessary casualties, turning the defence into a costly struggle for his own army.
Why it Ended
General Haig officially ended the Battle of the Somme on 18 November 1916, as winter settled over northern France. Weeks of heavy rain and snow had turned the ground into a sea of thick mud, stopping any large attacks and making it almost impossible to move supplies to the front.
 |
| A sea of mud at the Battle of the Somme. |
Aftermath
The human cost of the 141 day battle was staggering. British Empire forces suffered roughly 420,000 casualties, while the French lost around 200,000 men. German casualties were equally high, estimated between 430,000 and 500,000.
For all this sacrifice, Allied troops pushed forward just six miles along a twenty mile front. Yet despite these small territorial gains, the battle severely weakened the German army by wiping out many of its experienced officers and non commissioned officers. Early in 1917, German forces fell back to the stronger, heavily fortified Hindenburg Line.
How Viewed Today
Today, historians look at the Battle of the Somme in two ways; as a deep human tragedy and as a harsh learning curve for the British military. The terrible first day remains a powerful symbol of the horrors of trench warfare and the heavy loss of an entire generation.
Yet militarily, the battle marked the painful start of modern warfare. The hard lessons learned about artillery, air support, small unit tactics, and tanks helped pave the way for victory in 1918.
St Ives men at the Battle of the Somme
Between August 1914 to June 1916, eighteen St Ives men died in the First World War. An estimated forty-five men were injured. This averaged one death and two injuries every five weeks. Between July and November 1916 in the Battle of the Somme, seventeen St Ives men died. Two more died later from their injuries, bringing the total to nineteen. It's likely a further fifty-seven men were injured. This was a rate of one man killed and four injured every week.
In a close knit community of three thousand people, this increase in deaths and injuries sent a ripple of fear throughout the town. Families with loved ones at the Front faced constant anxiety with every fresh piece of news, living in perpetual fear of the next telegram.
We cannot know for certain how many local men fought at the Somme and survived. Many did return, carrying physical and emotional scars. But we do know the names of those who died. Most appear on the St Ives War Memorial, but a few names are not shown.
Some of these missing men lived just over St Ives bridge in Bridge Terrace or Filberts Walk. They worked, shopped, and raised families in town, yet an old parish boundary placed their homes inside Fenstanton or Hemingford Grey. Consequently, their names appear on village memorials instead. Others were simply omitted, perhaps because grieving families could not face seeing a public reminder of their loved one's death on Market Hill every day.
Here are details of all the St Ives men who died.
Pte Frank L Geeson, died 1 July 1916
Frank was killed on 1 July 1916 during the disastrous opening day of the Battle of the Somme, aged just 22. At 7:30 am, his battalion went over the top into heavy German machine gun and artillery fire. Moving across No Man's Land, thousands of British soldiers were cut down or trapped in undamaged barbed wire.
Frank has no known grave, a sign of the heavy destruction on the battlefield. His sacrifice is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in France alongside more than 72,000 missing servicemen, as well as on the St Ives War Memorial. To read more about Frank's life and view source documents, click here.
Cpl Archibald Dennis Woods, died 10 July 1916
Archibald joined the Worcestershire Regiment when war broke out. At the Battle of the Somme, he was shot in the throat on 4 July 1916 and then suffered poison gas exposure. He survived the journey to Warrington Hospital but died on 10 July 1916, aged 27.
His death deeply affected the town. The Hunts Post reported that the Mayor, local dignitaries, and a large crowd attended his funeral at St Ives Parish Church, where he was buried. Archibald is not listed on the local war memorial.
L/Cpl Walter T Hurl, died 30 July 1916
Walter was killed in action on Sunday 30 July 1916, aged 27, during the Battle of the Somme. Early that morning, his company attacked German positions at Maltz Horn Farm before pushing towards Trônes Wood and Delville Wood in heavy fog. German artillery, rifle, and machine gun fire poured into the British lines all day. Walter died instantly when a shell hit his trench.
Five Hurl brothers served during the First World War. Walter has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in France and on the St Ives War Memorial. To read more about Walter's life and view source documents and photos, click here.
Pte Charles R Butler, died 19 August 1916
Charles died aged 23 on Saturday 19 August 1916 during the Battle of Pozières Ridge. He went missing during an advance, leaving his family waiting over two years for news. Military authorities officially confirmed his death in October 1918.
His remains were later recovered from the battlefield and buried at Serre Road Cemetery No. 2 in France, identified by his service disc. His stepbrother, Herbert Butler, is also remembered on the St Ives War Memorial. To read more about Charles's life and view source documents, click here.
Pte John W Bateman, died 22 August 1916
John died aged 28 on Tuesday 22 August 1916 during the Battle of Pozières. He was killed while defending newly captured German trenches during heavy, continuous fighting for the high ground.
John has no known grave and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial in France. His name appears on the war memorials in Warboys and St Ives. John was probably well known in St Ives through his work at the local livestock market. His younger brother Charles was killed in 1918. To read more about John's life and view source documents, click here.
Pte Alfred Tasker, died 23 August 1916
Alfred was killed aged 23 on or around 23 August 1916 during the Battle of Pozières Ridge. In over forty days of heavy fighting, British forces suffered more than 31,000 casualties to gain just one mile of high ground. Listed as missing, his family waited months for news before his death was officially confirmed.
Alfred has no known grave. He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial in France and on the St Ives War Memorial. To read more about Alfred's life and view source documents, click here.
Pte Thomas Mason, died 27 August 1916
Thomas was killed in action aged 23 on Sunday 27 August 1916 near Pozières on the Somme. His battalion prepared to charge German positions at 2:00 pm, but the attack quickly turned to chaos. Officers were killed early on, troops lost their way, and some soldiers ran into their own supporting shellfire while under heavy enemy fire.
Reported missing during the advance, Thomas was initially listed as wounded before his death was officially confirmed. He has no known grave. He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial in France, the Fenstanton War Memorial, and a plaque at the St Ives Literary Institute. To read more about Thomas's life and view source documents, click here.
Pte Herbert Pope, died 3 September 1916
Herbert died in action at the age of 30 on Sunday 3 September 1916 during the opening hours of the Battle of Guillemont. At 8:50 am, his battalion advanced towards heavily fortified German lines defended by underground tunnels and concrete bunkers. Walking forward in formation, the advancing troops were met with heavy machine gun fire from both the front and flanks. The assault broke down, with the battalion suffering 293 casualties.
Herbert has no known grave. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in France and on the St Ives War Memorial. To read more about Herbert's life and view source documents, click here.
Pte William Lincoln, died 7 September 1916
William was killed in action aged 35 on Sunday 3 September 1916 at the Battle of Guillemont. His battalion was sent to capture Falfemont Farm to stop German machine gunners firing on the main attack. Moving forward under heavy artillery and machine gun fire, the battalion suffered 302 casualties.
The Hunts Post initially reported William missing, but his death was later confirmed. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial in France and on the Hemingford Grey War Memorial. To read more about William's life and view source documents, click here.
Pte James C Feary, died 15 September 1916
Having joined the Territorials before the war, he served with the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, and was wounded at Ypres in early 1915. After recovering, James returned to the front with the 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, for the Battle of the Somme. He was killed aged 39 on Friday 15 September 1916 at the Battle of Flers Courcelette. The attack cost many lives when supporting tanks broke down, British shellfire fell short, and standing enemy wire left advancing troops exposed to machine guns.
Initially buried as an unknown soldier, James was identified years later by his service number and the remains of his boots. He rests at Serre Road Cemetery No. 2 in France and is remembered on the St Ives War Memorial and inside the local Methodist Church. James left behind a wfie and six children. To read more about James's life and view source documents, click here.
Pte Richard J Lister, died 15 September 1916
Richard joined the Hunts Cyclists before transferring to the 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, in December 1914. He arrived in France the following summer. On Friday 15 September 1916, his battalion attacked at the Battle of Flers Courcelette. At 6:20 am, the men went over the top, but the initial British shellfire fell short and hit its own troops. The damaged unit came under heavy enemy fire and failed to reach its target, losing 124 men.
Richard was killed during the morning advance, aged 32. His family waited months before his death was officially confirmed. Having no known grave, he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial in France. His younger brother Joseph was killed in 1917 and is listed on the St Ives War Memorial. To read more about Richard's life and view source documents, click here.
L/Cpl Bertram A Clack, died 16 September 1916
Bert joined the 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards and reached France in April 1915. During the Battle of Flers Courcelette on 15 September 1916, his company advanced under heavy fire from Ginchy Wood to take enemy trenches.
The next day enemy shellfire pounded the captured lines. Bert was killed, aged 25. He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial and the St Ives War Memorial. To read more about Bert's life and view source documents, click here.
Pte Arthur H Kinshott, died 25 Sep 1916
Arthur enlisted in 1915, joining the 6th Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. He deployed to France on 18 September 1915. In September 1916, his unit fought at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette during the Somme offensive, famous for the first tactical use of tanks.
Severely injured in the fighting, Arthur was moved to a military hospital near Rouen. He died of his wounds on Monday 25 September 1916, aged 33, and lies buried at St Sever Cemetery, Rouen, France. To read more about Arthur's life and view source documents, click here.
Pte Frederick A Dunkling, died 12 Oct 1916
Frederick served with the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, enduring the brutal, muddy conditions of the Battle of the Somme. On 12 October 1916, during the Battle of Le Transloy, an attempt by German soldiers to surrender failed when a shot rang out from the trenches. The battalion attacked at 2.00 pm, advancing 200 yards before heavy enfilade fire pinned them down just 50 yards from the German lines.
Wounded during the evening's fighting, Frederick was bandaged and moved to cover by a corporal, but died thirty minutes later aged 26. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in France. Frederick left behind a wife and two young children. To read more about Frederick's life and view source documents and photographs, click here.
Pte William Brown, died 12 Oct 1916
William transferred to the 1st/8th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, to replace heavy losses. Deployed to the Western Front, he fought through the wet and muddy autumn of 1916 in the Battle of the Somme. On Sunday 12 November 1916, less than a week before the offensive ended, the 21 year old soldier and three comrades were killed instantly by a direct shell hit.
William left behind his wife Laura and a two month old daughter, Edith, whom he never got to hold. His death was reported back home in the Hunts Post on 8 December 1916. He rests today in Martinpuich British Cemetery, France. To read more about William's life and view source documents, click here.
Cpl Robert F Moulton, died 12 Oct 1916
Robert enrolled with the Hunts Cyclists in June 1915, serving on coastal defence in Lincolnshire. In July 1916 he transferred to the 1st/8th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, to rebuild the unit after heavy losses on the first day of the Somme. Plunged into the fighting over the following months, Robert was hit by a German shell on Sunday 12 November 1916 while returning to the front line trenches.
Back home in St Ives, local newspapers initially reported him wounded, but news of his death soon arrived through letters from two local soldiers serving alongside him. His friends suggested he survived for a time, later telling his mother he died instantly on 18 November to spare her grief. Official military records confirm he was killed in action on 12 November 1916 aged 19. He lies buried at Martinpuich British Cemetery in France. To read more about Robert's life and view source documents, click here.
Pte David Hodge, died 18 November 1916
All four Hodge brothers served during the First World War. David enlisted at Huntingdon with the Middlesex Regiment before transferring to the 7th Battalion, Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment, landing in France in 1915. He fought through the Battle of the Somme in 1916, culminating in the Battle of the Ancre, the final phase of the offensive fought through freezing sleet, snow, and mud.
On Saturday 18 November 1916, David's battalion was ordered to attack the German held Desire Trench early in the morning. Advancing in the dark and freezing cold, the troops met heavy rifle and machine gun fire, leaving David among nearly 300 casualties suffered by his regiment that day.
The Hunts Post initially reported him missing in January 1917. His family spent months hoping he had been taken prisoner, until official confirmation arrived in July 1917 that his body had been identified. David died aged 27 and is buried at Grandcourt Road Cemetery in the Somme, France. His older brother John is also listed on the St Ives War Memorial. To read more about David's life and view source documents, click here.
Pte George Housden Dellar, died 4 December 1916
George joined the St Ives Volunteers early in the war before enlisting with the Hunts Cyclists in late 1915. In July 1916 he transferred to the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, and deployed to France. On 3 September 1916, during the Battle of the Somme, his battalion was ordered to cross 1,000 yards of open ground to take Leuze Wood. Advancing under heavy machine gun and artillery fire, George was shot in the chest.
Initially expected to recover at a hospital in France, he was brought back to King Edward VII Hospital in Windsor. Without antibiotics, infections repeatedly set in. Despite visits from his father and wife, George died on 4 December 1916 aged 27. His death moved the local community, and he received a full military funeral as town businesses closed and crowds lined the streets. He is buried in Broad Lees Cemetery, St Ives. To read more about George's life and view source documents and photographs, click here.
Pte Harry Holmes, died 7 January 1923
On 3 September 1916, during the Battle of the Somme, Harry took part in an assault on High Wood, where advancing British troops met heavy German machine gun fire. Struck by shellfire, Harry lay severely wounded on the battlefield with a shattered pelvis and thigh, a injured back, and a paralysed left leg. Found alive, he spent 15 months in a French base hospital, lying face down for 11 of those months while recovering from his injuries.
Harry eventually returned to teaching in Grantham, walking with a stick, though a major relapse later forced him to spend another year recovering at his parents' home in St Ives. In 1920, he married Doris Nellie Dellar from St Ives and settled in Grantham.
After contracting typhoid fever and developing pleurisy, Harry died on 7 January 1923 aged 29. He was brought home to St Ives for his funeral and is buried in Westwood Road Cemetery. To read more about Harry's life and view source documents and photographs, click here.
To read more about St Ives in the First World War, click here.
No comments:
Post a Comment