Somme Offensive, March 1918
This is an account of the British Expeditionary Forces defensive battle on the Somme in March and April of 1918. It starts with the huge German offensive along a 60 mile front on 21 March. Third and Fifth Armies then had to make a series of fighting withdrawals in which some battalions had to fight their way out while others were overrun.Over the days that followed, men were called upon to fight all day against overwhelming numbers and then march all night to escape. After three years in the trenches, men had to battle in the open without tanks and often without artillery support. As communications failed, battalion and company commanders found themselves having to command in what was essentially a desperate infantry struggle.Each stage of the two week battle is given the same treatment, covering details about the most talked about side of the campaign, the British side. It explains how the British soldier time and again stood and fought. Over fifty new maps chart the day by day progress of each corps on each day.Together the narrative and the maps explain the British Armys experience during a fraught battle for survival. The men who made a difference are mentioned; those who led the advances, those who stopped the counterattacks and those who were awarded the Victoria Cross. Discover the Somme 1918 campaign and learn how the British Armys brave soldiers fought and died trying to stop the onslaught.
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Somme Offensive, March 1918
This is an account of the British Expeditionary Forces defensive battle on the Somme in March and April of 1918. It starts with the huge German offensive along a 60 mile front on 21 March. Third and Fifth Armies then had to make a series of fighting withdrawals in which some battalions had to fight their way out while others were overrun.Over the days that followed, men were called upon to fight all day against overwhelming numbers and then march all night to escape. After three years in the trenches, men had to battle in the open without tanks and often without artillery support. As communications failed, battalion and company commanders found themselves having to command in what was essentially a desperate infantry struggle.Each stage of the two week battle is given the same treatment, covering details about the most talked about side of the campaign, the British side. It explains how the British soldier time and again stood and fought. Over fifty new maps chart the day by day progress of each corps on each day.Together the narrative and the maps explain the British Armys experience during a fraught battle for survival. The men who made a difference are mentioned; those who led the advances, those who stopped the counterattacks and those who were awarded the Victoria Cross. Discover the Somme 1918 campaign and learn how the British Armys brave soldiers fought and died trying to stop the onslaught.
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Somme Offensive, March 1918

Somme Offensive, March 1918

by Andrew Rawson
Somme Offensive, March 1918

Somme Offensive, March 1918

by Andrew Rawson

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Overview

This is an account of the British Expeditionary Forces defensive battle on the Somme in March and April of 1918. It starts with the huge German offensive along a 60 mile front on 21 March. Third and Fifth Armies then had to make a series of fighting withdrawals in which some battalions had to fight their way out while others were overrun.Over the days that followed, men were called upon to fight all day against overwhelming numbers and then march all night to escape. After three years in the trenches, men had to battle in the open without tanks and often without artillery support. As communications failed, battalion and company commanders found themselves having to command in what was essentially a desperate infantry struggle.Each stage of the two week battle is given the same treatment, covering details about the most talked about side of the campaign, the British side. It explains how the British soldier time and again stood and fought. Over fifty new maps chart the day by day progress of each corps on each day.Together the narrative and the maps explain the British Armys experience during a fraught battle for survival. The men who made a difference are mentioned; those who led the advances, those who stopped the counterattacks and those who were awarded the Victoria Cross. Discover the Somme 1918 campaign and learn how the British Armys brave soldiers fought and died trying to stop the onslaught.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781526723338
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Limited
Publication date: 01/31/2020
Series: British Expeditionary Force
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 264
File size: 104 MB
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About the Author

Andrew Rawson is a freelance writer who has written over forty books covering many conflicts. They include eight books for Pen & Sword's 'Battleground Europe' series and three reference books for The History Press's 'Handbook' series. One covered all aspects of the British Army in the First World War. He has recently completed a ten part series on the British Expeditionary Force's battles on the Western Front. He has a master's history degree with Birmingham University.

Table of Contents

Regiments vi

Introduction ix

Chapter 1 Beat the Germans and the Rest will Follow 1

Chapter 2 The Closest and Most Effective Cooperation 8

Chapter 3 They are Coming at Last, Good Business 18

Chapter 4 The Struggle was of a Ding-Dong Nature 30

Chapter 5 Here We Fight and Here We Die! 41

Chapter 6 Contest Every Foot of Ground 58

Chapter 7 That Night the Devil had Business on his Hands 69

Chapter 8 Fighting Both to their Front and to their Flanks 85

Chapter 9 Everybody Seems to be on the Run 94

Chapter 10 That Splendid Spirit in which Grit and Enthusiasm Outran Prudence 108

Chapter 11 Open Warfare with Vengeance 119

Chapter 12 At the Mercy of Rumours 131

Chapter 13 They Came Back with their Tails Straight Up over their Heads 142

Chapter 14 Everyone Agreed, it had been a Top-Hole Day 150

Chapter 15 Bomb and Bayonet were Frequently Used 168

Chapter 16 Here They Are, Right on Me! 185

Chapter 17 The Power of Attack was Exhausted 203

Chapter 18 Conclusions 224

Index 231

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