1/Royal Marines at Miraumont

 

17 February 1917

Introduction:

As I sit here writing this article or a cold November evening, I can’t help but turn my mind back eighty-three years to the RND's trial at Beaucourt. The Battle of the Somme officially finished six days later that success and history draws a line under the affair. History mainly picks the story up at Ypres bypassing a whole section of many Divisions histories. In this respect the RND is no different, people who knew me, know that I have often promoted Gavrelle as one of these lost battles which often gets ignored, then there is one other which is equally ignored and was virtually as costly-Miraumont. Although the Battle of the somme drew to a close officallv at the end of November 1916, the slaughter continued in the New Year as the higher command demanded that the line he advanced In the Battles around Miraumont, the newly rested and replenished RND suffered severely to take more mud. Ironically the Germans ceded much  land a few weeks later without a fight in their March withdrawal, which raises the issue of whether the costly battles on the Ancre were really needed at all.

The RND moved into the line around Grandcourt at the end January 1917 with preparation for offensive action towards Miraumont. An attack was planned for February and was to be conducted by units of 189 Brigade, with mainly Hood and Hawke assaulting and Nelson in close reserve. The attack went ahead in the evening of 3 February and into the early hours of the 4^th. The Brigade succeeded in capturing River trench and settled on its gains but suffered casualties of 24 Officers and 647 other ranks. figures which were significant, especially in the light of the losses three months prior to this.

On 7th February it was the turn of l90 Brigade to attack. This went well with 1/HAC taking Baillescourt Farm which was in the river valley 600yds ahead of the line taken and established on the 4^th. The position now was that the line was advanced into the river valley, but the high ground to the north and south was still in German hands. It was this high ground that was to be the subject of attacks of 3 Divisions on the 17th

Plan and Battle:

The plan was to take the sunken lane opposite Baillescourt farm. The lower part of this lane approximately 100yards was in British hands. What  was needed was to take the rest of this lane and link with troops to the north. Once this lane had been taken strongpoints were to be formed 50 yards in front of the sunken lane. On the southern flank, the 18 Division was attacking northwards, at 90 degrees to the RND. On their right flank. 2nd division was also attacking Boom ravine northwards towards Pys and Petite Miraumont. The purpose of all of these attacks was to take this high ground and remove a bulge in the British line west of Courcelette/ Pozieres.

188 Brigade was allotted the task of taking this line. Howe battalion was to attack the sunken lane just north of Baillescourt Farm. On their left 1/RM was to attack the rest of the sunken lane, 2/RM were to provide consolidation parties and form a flank guard on the left flank Anson were holding the Baillescourt farm and lower sunken Lane sector. 1/RM moved into the line on the night of 14/15th February, Howe moved into the line on the night of the 16thFeb, in fact only just making it to the assembly area before the attack commenced.

Conditions generally were bad. The ground bad been frozen, but now was thawing out, leaving the battlefield muddy. There were no trenches as such, they had been blown away, at best there was a line of shell holes.