Redan Ridge from the south east. The ground on Redan Ridge is still pockmarked with craters from when mines were exploded on 1 July 1916. The British front lines at that time ran just beyond the clump of trees and the cemetery. The German front lines ran across the foreground of the picture. The cemetery to the right of the trees is Redan Ridge Cemetery No.1. The site of the cemetery is midway between the British and German front lines. 17 October 1993 (Ref 93/139/07A)
Redan Ridge was a heavily fortified German position that overlooked a lot of the surrounding countryside between the fortified villages of Serre and Beaumont-Hamel.
Redan Ridge was named after the ‘Redan’ – a group of British front line trenches of 1916. This area was reached on 1 July 1916, but was not held until the following November.
Redan Ridge is situated about 2km south west of Serre. There are traces on the ridge of the mines exploded at the start of the Somme offensive. The fields around the ridge still show signs of soil marks that indicate the position of some of the trenches.
