Maricourt

[Chris Boonzaier]

Is there any online (or published) comparison of the achievemnts of British and French troops along the line where the two sides joined? The 6th bavarian Reserve infantry regiment straddeled the two sides... but I have been able to find nothing n this.

all the best

Chris

[CROONAERT]

Chris.

I don't know if you have this map from the OH, but it looks as if the Brits and the French advanced together pretty evenly here.

Dave.

[Ralph J. Whitehead]

Hello Chris,

What a coincidence. I have been studying this section of the battle and I am currently completing my translations of the regimental history of the 6th Bavarian RIR as well as the 109th RIR, the adjoining regiment. The final bit is the German account of the fighting in Somme Nord 1. I am putting these together with the casualty lists for the 6th Bav. RIR and 109th RIR to give an idea of the level of fighting.

I hope to have this done in the next few months after I get all of my sources combined and sorted out. I know your thread concerned the English/French advance but if you are interested I will keep you posted on the progress I make and the final product.

Ralph

[Chris Boonzaier]

Hi Ralph,

I have just picked up an Iron cross certificate to a man of the 10th company of the 6 b.R.I.R. , awarded at the end of July 1916 ( so for the Somme) and was looking around for relevant information for an article.

In exactly the same sector (Hardecourt) I have another award document to an officer who was in the Field artillery Regiment 21, but during the first few days of the battle, took over a company of the Infanterie Regiment 63 (either his arty battery was destroyed or the infantry had no officers left).

I am working on some other stuff at the moment but was wondering if there was any interesting angle to this, either a chapter about the sector and the 2 units or a chapter comparing the fighting on the 6th b.R.I.R. front, Brits and French.

Should I leave this one alone for your long winter nights ahead? (Dark at 5:00 PM here, until 7:00 am toaday... its gonna be a long winter )

[John_Hartley]

Guys

My main interest is the 17th Manchesters. Their accounts make no reference to the French, although they were to the left of 89th Brigade so were not in direct contact. Perhaps Pals with an interest in the Kings Liverpool may have information.

Ralph - I would definately be interested in seeing the relevent bits of the finished product about 6th Bavarians. I have details of an account of Leutnant Josef Busel, 3 Platoon, 8th Company. The account pops up in various UK books and, I'm aafaid, I don't know the original source.

John

[Guest]

Hello Ralph and Dave,

I have visited the site of the dividing line some times. To put things into context I am very interested in both Ralphs and Daves postings:

If possible Ralph: can you keep me informed on the document with your translation work on the 6th and 109th?

And Dave, can you also email or post the bottom half of your OH map, so the whole Maricourt 'Salient' down to the Somme river comes into view?

Thanks and all the best,

Peter

[Ralph J. Whitehead]

Hello everyone,

It seems that this thread is taking on a larger life. I would be happy to share the information I am researching as soon as possible. The winter nights here do make for time to write and research, especially when it is -40F.

Chris, I believe I will have more than enough detail on the 6th Bav. RIR and 21st FAR to provide information for your documents. Could you send me any information on them that you can.

Peter and John, I will keep you advised on the article as well and provide whatever details that I can. Peter, can I ask what your interests are in the war? I note that you have just joined, welcome to the group.

Ralph

[Chris Boonzaier]

Hi Ralph,

At the moment I have 2 documents that will fit into this theme. The first is the soon to arrive 6 b.R.I.R. to an enlisted man in the 10th company, the 2nd is to Leutnant Luczny of the Feldartillerie Regiment 21, seconded to the I.R. 63 during the opening phases of the Somme. the latter is awarded by the commander of the 12th I.D.

I am not sure is two seperate pieces or a single one combining the two is the best way to go.

all the best

Chrid

[Ralph J. Whitehead]

Chris,

Considering the events of that period the two will probably be intertwined and work off one another in any account. As I get a better idea of the information and try to coordinate the different accounts we can see where they go. The artillery in this sector was hard hit as were the different infantry regiments. The heavy losses probably accounted for many officers being moved about.

I will keep you advised.

Regards,

Ralph

[Chris Boonzaier]

allow me to buy you an E-Beer, hell, take as many as you want, they are on me...thanks

[CROONAERT]

Hello Ralph and Dave,

I have visited the site of the dividing line some times. To put things into context I am very interested in both Ralphs and Daves postings:

If possible Ralph: can you keep me informed on the document with your translation work on the 6th and 109th?

And Dave, can you also email or post the bottom half of your OH map, so the whole Maricourt 'Salient' down to the Somme river comes into view?

Thanks and all the best,

Peter

Here you go Peter...

[Guest]

Hello All,

Dave, thanks for the map, nothing much has changed in 90 years when I compare it to the Michelin Maps serie Bleue.

As for my interest in Maricourt: I took up an interest in WW1 history since 1986 and have visited the Somme yearly ever since. I like reading about a certain part of a battle and visiting the exact spot afterwards to walk the ground and see the different positions. Maricourt started interesting me initially because I wondered about the reasons why the French were relatively succesfull on July 1st compared to the British. Was it the ly of the land? weaker german defences? why was the dividing line not simply the river Somme itself? Anyway, reasons enough to have a look there myself.

Thanks for the welcome, very interesting to read all the other postings and am a bit sorry that I only now found out about the forum!

Thanks again,

Peter

[tarzanakid]

Hi, all, you've all heard this one before but YES, I am writing a book (novel) of which a part occurs around Maricourt in May & July 1916. I picked Maricourt because there's less written about it than more northerly Somme sectors & just 'happened' on the briquetterie - because I liked the word - trust me to find somewhere really obscure! I have Mr Stedman's excellent works on Manchester Pals etc but need more info specifically on the brickworks. I am really trying to find info/images of the briquetterie just north of Maricourt, near Montauban. Not had lot of luck on t'internet except for consolidated cemetary pics. At time of May/July, was the brickworks in recent use, what did it look like - indeed was their anything left of it in the way of walls, buildings, chimney etc and did it deteriorate before the battles or was it damaged during the year of 1916 ? Not easy for me to travel there at the moment so any info & especially images old and new most appreciated. I do hope I'm using this forum correctly but am sure you'll tell me if I'm not!

thank you

Bob

(1st 50k words are the hardest- I hope!) It has been a fascinating journey so far -97% time on research & 3% time actually writing - it must be even more for non-fiction! At 62 years old you think you know all about a lifelong interest subject but when you start as a first time fiction author desperate to 'get it right' you realise you really know b-g--r all! Another pitfall is I tend to invent too many characters to fit the different chaper events. I have to constantly review and condense/combine them so they kind of 'meet up' to develop characterisation and not confuse the reader. Anybody else writing out there with advice or parallel writing problems?

Bob again