SOMME BRITISH Sector - Contalmaison

by Pierre Grande Guerre
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31 Mar, 2019
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Years of visit: 2005, 2007, 2011

At the outskirts of Contalmaison, the Second Phase of the Battle of the Somme, a visit to the Scottish Memorial Cairn, Bell´s Redoubt, the Manchester Regiment Memorial, and Death Valley.

This Cairn at the outskirts of Contalmaison forms the Memorial to McCrea’s Battalion, named after Lt. Col. Sir George McCrae. His Battalion captured on 1 July the German stronghold in the ruins of Contalmaison, named the Scots Redoubt.

There are 4 bronze plagues attached to the Cairn.
This one is telling about the heroic deeds of the 34th Division, with its chequerboard insignia.

This panel tells about details about the design, in cooperation with the inhabitants of Contalmaison, and the unveiling of the memorial in 2004.

This plague commemorates the sacrifices of the “Heart of the Midlothian Football Club”.

And a plague commemorating the heroic acts of the Edinburgh and Manchester Regiments.

The Second Phase of the Battle of the Somme

Fricourt and Contalmaison formed a few of the centre points of the Second Phase of the Battle of the Somme 1916. The Second Phase from 2 July until 13 July concentrated on the line Ovillers- Fricourt - Montauban.

After the disappointments of the first day Haig was still desperately seeking for a change of tactics and succes.

On 2 July the Germans tried to counterattack the British at Montauban, but it was not successful.

Rawlinson’s 38th Division conquered the village of Mametz on 3 July. They explored Death Valley and Mametz Wood and concluded it being empty. But a day later, the 4th of July, the Germans already fortified Mametz Wood intensely. On 6 July General Gough’s 5th Army captured La Boiselle, but nearby Orvillers stayed in German possession.

It took General Rawlinson's 23rd Division another 9 days, until 10 July, before the British would capture Contalmaison. On the 8th of July the 1st Worcester Regiment of the 23rd Divison reached the road near the church, but they had to retreat under heavy German fire. On 10 July the 23rd Division, the Green Howards 8th Regiment, and the 11th West Yorkshire, renewed the attacks at the village. Although the Germans counter attacked fiercely, they were forced to withdraw from Contalmaison.

We leave Contalmaison by the C4, leading to Mametz Village. Not far away from Acid Drop Copse, north of Dead Valley, and west of Mametz Wood, this spot along the C4, just outside the village of Contalmaison, called "Bell's Redoubt".

2nd Lieutenant, Donald S. Bell, VC, 9th Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment

On July 5 at 6 P.M. 2 battalions entered the battle.
The objective of 2nd Lieutenant, Donald S. Bell, and his 9th Battalion was to capture a position known as the "Horse Shoe Trench". It was on high ground in a slight curve nearby Mametz Wood.
Despite the fact that several of the officers, who were leading the troops, had become casualties, great progress was made.
Horse Shoe Trench was taken and 146 prisoners and two machine guns were captured.
A German machine gun began to enfilade the 9th Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment.
On his own initiative, 2nd Lieutenant Donald Bell, supported by Corporal Colwill and Private Batey, tried to destroy the gun position.
Bell surprised the occupants and destroyed the machine gun position by shooting the gunner.
He then threw Mill´s bombs (hand grenade's) into the nearby trench, killing over 50 men of the enemy.
This very brave act saved many lives and ensured the success of the attack.
Lt. Bell's citation for the Victoria Cross was published on 9 September 1916.
Some five days after the incident for which 2nd Lieutenant Donald Bell was awarded the Victoria Cross, after he performed a similar act, west of Contalmaison, which costed him his life!

Some 200 meters further on, on the left, near the former location of Acid Drop Copse, we visit the memorial for the Manchester Regiment at the local civilian cemetery.