Stephen Nulty Posted 15 July , 2004 Share Posted 15 July , 2004 "The Long Trail" home page says that on todays date, "1916 - inferno at Delville Wood on Somme as both sides contest this strategic ground ". I am intrigued by the use of the word "inferno". What actyualy happened there? SN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gem22 Posted 15 July , 2004 Share Posted 15 July , 2004 Stephen For a complete answer to this question I suggest you read Ian Uys' book Roll Call: The Battle for Delville Wood. It is one of the books that should be in everybody's collection. Garth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Nulty Posted 15 July , 2004 Author Share Posted 15 July , 2004 Thanks, Garth, I'll do that. SN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burlington Posted 15 July , 2004 Share Posted 15 July , 2004 The inferno on the 15th was the attack led by the 2nd South African Regiment who were ordered to take the wood 'at all costs'. The attack was preceded by a barrage and they cleared the southern half of the wood. They then secured much of the rest of the wood but were then counter attacked and were under barrage from the Germans. The battle went on to and fro to the 21 July. Of the 3151 SA officers & men who went in to the wood on 15th only 780 came out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted 17 July , 2004 Share Posted 17 July , 2004 Whilst the SA Brigade lost heavily at Delville Wood, (92 officers and 2281 men), it should be recalled that the 9 (Scottish) Division, of which they were a part, lost a total of 314 officers and 7203 men at Delville Wood/Longueval. Phil B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petroc Posted 18 July , 2004 Share Posted 18 July , 2004 For a basic (ie, not interpreted for its strategic or tactical merits) commentry on the battle for Delville Wood, and indeed the whole 1916 campaign in Picardy, Chris McCarthy's 'Somme; The Day by Day Account' is invaluable. Incidentally; is there any merit in the claim that the SA Brigade was attached to the 9th Division because of the large numbers of ex-pat and second generation Scots in its component units? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_Baker Posted 18 July , 2004 Share Posted 18 July , 2004 There's quite a bit of info about the South African Brigade on the Long, Long Trail: here. It was a little project I began almost a year ago...and still haven't finished...so the "come back soon" comment was, ahem, a little optimistic. I will pick it up after my summer holidays. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Nulty Posted 20 July , 2004 Author Share Posted 20 July , 2004 Chris It's the birthday today of your "come back soon" comment Perhaps just update the year !! SN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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