Remembering
Guillemont and Ginchy, 3rd September 2009
The Battle of the Somme is rightly remembered
for the high number (57,000+) of casualties on the first day of
the battle, 1st July, 1916. Across much of the battlefield the
outcome was nothing short of disastrous. However on the right
hand end of the line the French proved successful as did the British
XIII Corps adjacent to them, under Lieutenant-General Sir William
Congreve, VC. However the British success that day in taking Montauban
was not fully exploited because of the risks perceived in the
advancing troops having their flanks exposed.
It is a considerable "What If", but what
might have otherwise been an easy advance on that first day turned
into a bitter slogging match subsequently, as the British advanced,
and sometimes withdrew, yard by yard over the next few months,
matched by stout defending by the German Army. Thrusting north
and east towards the Bazentins, Longueval and the Woods at Bernafay
and Trones as well as actions after having taking over part of
the front-line from the French to the south of Guillemont would
continue for the next two months. A look at the map will reveal,
for example, that the distance from Montauban to Guillemont is
barely 2000 yards.
While all this had been going on, the 16th (Irish)
Division had been holding the front line in the allegedly quite
sector of Loos and Hulluch. It is possible that, after the Easter
Rising in Dublin a few months earlier, their reliability may have
been considered suspect by British Commanders. But, any reservations
were put aside, given the attrition among the Divisions already
on the Somme, and at the end of August, the Irish were withdrawn
from the line at Hulluch, to be moved into the Somme sector.
Within days, the 'Irishmen' of the 16th Division
were involved in the heavy fighting. One Brigade assigned to operate
with the 5th and the 20th (Light) Divisions would, at last, capture
Guillemont on 3rd September for the British and form a front-line
on the road that runs south from Ginchy. Over the next few days,
the position would be consolidated, with attempts to advance east
towards Combles. At this stage, other Divisions on the left flank
of the Irish were attempting, without success, to advance eastwards
from Delville Wood to take Ginchy. On the 9th September, the 16th
(Irish) Division were given the job of taking Ginchy, and in an
assault, that was hampered by German and also British artillery,
the 'Irishmen' successfully stormed through and beyond the village,
having to be recalled before going to far ahead of their objective.
Subsequently, the Division, having taken heavy casualties, was
replaced in the line, and was then sent to the Ypres Salient where
the men could recuperate near Poperinghe. Any charges of 'unreliability',
if these had been made, were clearly unproven, and the 'Irishmen',
as ever, showed great courage.
In using the term 'Irishmen', the majority of men
in the Division were indeed Irish, but of course, on a website
dedicated to the Channel Islands in the Great War, the participation
of some 600-700 Islanders who served with the 16th (Irish) Division
cannot be ignored.
Turning to the present time, the accompanying images
are of a service held at the 16th (Irish) Division Memorial on
3rd September, 2009, to commemorate the men who fought at Guillemont
and Ginchy in September 1916. Among the attendees were local French
dignitaries, civic representatives from Ulster, members of old
comrades associations from France and the United Kingdom, members
of the Somme Association, and the descendants of Victoria Cross
winners at Guillemont:
Lieutenant John Vincent HOLLAND, VC, Leinster Regiment
Private Thomas HUGHES, VC, Connaught Rangers
Sergeant David JONES, VC, King's (Liverpool) Regiment
However, there was also very welcome military representation
at the service from both the Armed Forces of the Republic of Ireland
and the United Kingdom. Given the difficult nature of the partition
of Ireland into the North (Ulster) and the South (Republic) communities,
the recognition of those from the South that had 'fought for
the British' and had made the ultimate sacrifice had been
muted. However, there is increasing acceptance that the Southern
Irish contribution and the heroism of those men during the Great
War should be properly acknowledged, whatever the political views
that may exist.
Finally, it is hoped that there will be some suitable Channel
Islands attendance at future ceremonies.
16 mins 30 secs
Thanks go to the Somme Association
for providing the CIGWSG with the accompanying presentation and
for allowing its use on this website.
