Home \ News Articles \ Cyprus Articles \ Serre \ Serre - The Objective

Serre - The Objective

Written by Mike
Serre from the south east. The line of trees across the upper centre of the picture is the Sheffield Memorial Park. The British front lines followed the site of the park. The German front lines ran between the park and the village. The 31st Division attacked at this point on 1 July 1916. 17 October 1993. (Ref 93/139/01A) Serre from the south east. The line of trees across the upper centre of the picture is the Sheffield Memorial Park. The British front lines followed the site of the park. The German front lines ran between the park and the village. The 31st Division attacked at this point on 1 July 1916. 17 October 1993. (Ref 93/139/01A)

Serre was one of a number of front line villages in the Somme sector that had been heavily fortified by the Germans ever since they had taken up their positions in the area in late September 1914.

The objective of the Pals Battalions attack on Serre on 1 July 1916 was to advance about 1,000 yards, capture the village, and in doing so protect the northern flank of the front which ran south for 14 miles at this point.

The plan was initially to hold the position, and then advance south of Serre pivoting around the village as the advance progressed through open country towards Bapaume.

The 31st Pals Division under Major General R Wanless O’Gowan mounted the attack on Serre.

The Pals were protected on the left by a smokescreen and a diversionary attack on the German held village of Gommecourt, and on the right by an attack on Beaumont-Hamel by the regular 4th and 29th Divisions.

Like this? Tweet it to your followers!
Tagged under
Social sharing
Mike

Mike

Mike McCormac has been a photographer since about ten years old.  He's a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society, and lives in a village in the hills near Paphos in Cyprus.

Read his full Bio

Related items (by tag)

More in this category: « Pals Battalions Serre - The Attack »

Add comment


back to top