Beaumont Hamel - Somme
Mémorial Terre-neuvien

At Beaumont Hamel, three infantry brigades, the 86^th, 87^th and 88^th of the 29^th British Division fought against the experienced (reserve)Infantry Regiment, part of the 26^th Wurttemberg Division.

The plan was for the four battalions of the 86^th and 87^th brigades to be part of the initial assault of the offensive of the 1^st July 1916.
At 7:30am they were to advance towards enemy lines.
At 7:20am a huge mine (40,000lbs of explosive) was set off under a German strong hold - Hawthorn Ridge, just north of the Y-ravine. The aim was to destroy this important German strong hold, to use the ridge of the crater and take enemy trenches.

But the Germans were so quick to respond, troops from the 2^nd Rifle Regiment (86^th Brigade) couldn’t take the crater or provide the much needed support.

The advancing battalions suffered from well aimed infantry and machine gun fire. At the same time the German Artillery, who were relatively untouched by the British counter attack, fired an intensive barrage towards the advancing troops and towards British communication trenches.

On the right flank only the 1st Iniskillings managed to penetrate the 1^st and 3^rd German lines.