The Battle of Fromelles (July 1916)

Following the disastrous first day of the Battle of the Somme, the British commanders looked for ways of diverting German attention from the region. Haig chose the salient formed by the "Sugar Loaf" Redoubt to the north-east of Fromelles on the edge of Aubers Ridge. Haig hoped that a major artillery bombardment lasting for three days followed by a spirited infantry assault would make the Germans think the British were expanding the Somme offensive and draw enemy troops northward. Unfortunately, not enough artillery of a heavy enough calibre with high explosive shells was available. Coupled to this was the fact that much of the artillery had just come out of training, leading the bombardment to be inadequate and, in some sectors, completely ineffective in shredding the barbed wire.

The attack went in at 1800 on 19th July with the newly-arrived 5th Australian Division advancing towards Fromelles village and the inexperienced British 61st Division assaulting the German line on their right. Problems began almost immediately. German observers up on Aubers Ridge, clearly able to see the British and Australians forming up in the sun of a summer’s afternoon, brought down a heavy barrage causing many casualties. As the troops went over the top, they were hit by more artillery and machine guns untouched by the weak bombardment and protected by wire entanglements. The left hand brigades of the 61st Division never even made it to the German front line. The Australians made greater penetration but the lead units soon became isolated and German reinforcements practically annihilated the attackers. The survivors fought their way back to their own front line trenches during the early morning of 20th July.

The Battle of Fromelles had been yet another costly failure – German resistance on the Somme sector had not been weakened by this diversionary operation and a further 7,000 had become casualties, mostly from the 5th Australian Division.