First Day of the Somme

48th Division

   

 

The 48th Division were mainly kept in reserve, holding the line between the diversionary attack on Gommecourt, and the main attack on Serre and Beaumont-Hamel.   Two battalions attacked on 1 July, but failed to capture the German line, suffering 1060 casualties.

While it still looked as though British troops were making some headway against the Germans, the rest of the Division was brought up two within 2 miles of the line, ready to be used, but their assault was called off because German artillery fire had destroyed the telephone cables, and because - when GOC 4 Division reported that he was not able to resupply his men with ammunition because of German artillery fire -  it became clear that the attack had failed.