Preparations for the Somme. How early?

[Gunner R.A.]

Preparations for the Somme. How early?

How early in 1916 would it have been obvious to the men of the B.E.F that offensive operations on a very large scale were being prepared, i.e. the Battles of the Somme?

For example, In February and March 1916, the 49^th (West Riding) Division was on the Somme, having moved south from Ypres. Would the officers/men of the division have had any idea that offensive operations were being prepared? The steady concentration of troops on this front, the stockpiling of all manner of war material at the railheads etc. Or would it have been too early for this?

 Any help would be appreciated.

[kenf48]

57 minutes ago, Gunner R.A. said:

Or would it have been too early for this?

 

I think it would probably have been too early.

In February 1916 the Somme was regarded as a 'quiet sector' compared to the fighting in the North around Ypres. Units were being transferred there from February and regarded it as a 'cushy' posting in spite of the large number of attritionall losses.  In February 1916 2/lieut Frank Woolocombe (9th Devons)*  wrote, "It is a very blissful part after our old haunts...we are having beautiful weather on the whole; a beautiful Spring so the Boche will be able to do their push soon if they like!".

* Malcolm Brown IWM Book of the Somme

Haig did not want to fight on the Somme, Flanders had greater strategic value and Rawlinson who was charged with conducting operations had a different view as to how the campaign should be conducted. ** It was a political rather than military decision to fight there as it was the point on the Front where the French and British lines adjoined.  Haig was bound by the agreement of French in 1915 to support joint initiatives by the Allies.  A situation the British responded towards  in 1916 created in part by the German attack on Verdun on 21st February. (Frank's 'push'(?)).

On the 5th May Haig told Clemencau his Divisions "want much careful training  before we could attack with hope of success" **. At that time Haig was looking towards August.

** Douglas Haig Diaries etc. 5 April 1916 / 5 May 1916

It is said that the rumour mill in the trenches was omnipresent.  As Spring wore on it became obvious preparations were being made for a major offensive in the sector and letters and interviews at the IWM indicate by May there was a high degree of awareness amongst the troops that preparations were being made for a major offensive. Roads and rail links were being built and large camps created, a situation that did not go unnoticed by. the Germans never mind the Yorkshire men.

However,I doubt that they were aware in February, a major offensive in the region by the British Army was likely.

[Gunner R.A.]

Thanks Ken, what you state makes a lot of sense. I agree with you.

regards,

Pete.

[Alan24]

Here's an extract from a diary concerning 125 Heavy Battery who arrived on the Somme from England on 3 May 1916.

The first round fired at the enemy on 22nd May by No. 1 Gun (Sub-section). At that time use of ammunition was restricted and the firing carried out consisted chiefly of registration work and retaliation shoots. Rumours were soon afloat however that the Battery was in for something big. This 
proved to be correct and all ranks found themselves in for a strenuous time when the artillery preparation for the great Somme offensive opened out on 26th June.

This would suggest about a month's notice for men in the ranks.

Edited 21 June , 2022 by Alan24

[phil andrade]

20 hours ago, kenf48 said:

 

 

It is said that the rumour mill in the trenches was omnipresent.

 

What my Dad used to refer to as " The Latrine -ogram" was certainly omnipresent in his experience on the El Alamein line in 1942, and it must have been of enormous effect a generation earlier in Flanders and Picardy.

 

The big strategic decision for the Entente Offensive had been made at Chantilly in December 1915, and by the spring of 1916 Haig was already alluding to the Somme as the point of attack.

 

I would bet that the rank and file were aware of much more - and a good deal earlier - than many would suppose.

 

Phil

[Gunner R.A.]

20 hours ago, Alan24 said:

Here's an extract from a diary concerning 125 Heavy Battery who arrived on the Somme from England on 3 May 1916.

The first round fired at the enemy on 22nd May by No. 1 Gun (Sub-section). At that time use of ammunition was restricted and the firing carried out consisted chiefly of registration work and retaliation shoots. Rumours were soon afloat however that the Battery was in for something big. This 
proved to be correct and all ranks found themselves in for a strenuous time when the artillery preparation for the great Somme offensive opened out on 26th June.

This would suggest about a month's notice for men in the ranks.

Thanks Alan, much appreciated.

[Gunner R.A.]

1 hour ago, phil andrade said:

 

What my Dad used to refer to as " The Latrine -ogram" was certainly omnipresent in his experience on the El Alamein line in 1942, and it must have been of enormous effect a generation earlier in Flanders and Picardy.

 

The big strategic decision for the Entente Offensive had been made at Chantilly in December 1915, and by the spring of 1916 Haig was already alluding to the Somme as the point of attack.

 

I would bet that the rank and file were aware of much more - and a good deal earlier - than many would suppose.

 

Phil

Thanks Phil, you might have a point there.

 

[mancpal]

This is not as advanced as speculation but here goes.

In advance of a major offensive anywhere during WW1 supplies of ammo/food etc. must have been brought forward in advance.

Would this mean that ASC men or perhaps Labour Corps may have gleaned a suspicion something was afoot before infantry units. Given the rotation in the trenches of infantry, a unit retiring may not have cared much as to whether the stockpile behind them had increased since they headed forward, more likely keen to at least be in reserve.

please be aware that I am guessing!

Simon

 

[sassenach]

4 hours ago, phil andrade said:

What my Dad used to refer to as " The Latrine -ogram" was certainly omnipresent in his experience on the El Alamein line in 1942,

My old man was there too. Eightieth anniversary in a few days.

[phil andrade]

24 minutes ago, sassenach said:

My old man was there too. Eightieth anniversary in a few days.

The discerning  - and you are clearly one such -will remember that the First Battle of El Alamein was fought In July 1942.

Am I right in suggesting that, through the ages, officers have expressed astonishment at how much the other ranks seemed to be the first to know about imminent operations ?

 

Phil

 

[kenf48]

3 hours ago, mancpal said:

This is not as advanced as speculation but here goes.

In advance of a major offensive anywhere during WW1 supplies of ammo/food etc. must have been brought forward in advance.

Would this mean that ASC men or perhaps Labour Corps may have gleaned a suspicion something was afoot before infantry units. Given the rotation in the trenches of infantry, a unit retiring may not have cared much as to whether the stockpile behind them had increased since they headed forward, more likely keen to at least be in reserve.

please be aware that I am guessing!

Simon

 

To be pedantic the Labour Corps did not exist in 1916, but yes the logistics of bringing forward 100,000 horses and 400,000 was unlikely to go unnoticed.  The artillery breaking up the roads as the guns were positioned would have an impact.  The biggest undertaking was building railway lines to bring forward supplies once the Offensive began.  Not least were the many New Army Battalions being deployed to the sector. The war diary of the 2nd South Wales Borderers for example was fairly typical. Raids in April and then through May/June working parties were raised each day they were out of the line.

To refer back to the OP this level of effort was not in place in February and of course the 2nd SWB did not arrive until March.

But none of this build up was apparent in February 1916.  It was a relatively slow but cumulative process and as April turned to May it became more obvious, it was not until May trench building began in earnest but from then on digging became the main activity for the Infantry on the Somme.

[Gunner R.A.]

16 hours ago, kenf48 said:

To be pedantic the Labour Corps did not exist in 1916, but yes the logistics of bringing forward 100,000 horses and 400,000 was unlikely to go unnoticed.  The artillery breaking up the roads as the guns were positioned would have an impact.  The biggest undertaking was building railway lines to bring forward supplies once the Offensive began.  Not least were the many New Army Battalions being deployed to the sector. The war diary of the 2nd South Wales Borderers for example was fairly typical. Raids in April and then through May/June working parties were raised each day they were out of the line.

To refer back to the OP this level of effort was not in place in February and of course the 2nd SWB did not arrive until March.

But none of this build up was apparent in February 1916.  It was a relatively slow but cumulative process and as April turned to May it became more obvious, it was not until May trench building began in earnest but from then on digging became the main activity for the Infantry on the Somme.

Thanks again Ken, much appreciated.