Hi
Westlake’s British Battalions on the Somme is the most used reference book on my shelves but it does not cover the period from the takeover of the front from the French to the 1st of July. I have attempted to work out who was where, between Gommecourt and the Ancre by tracing the dates of death and the division of men buried in the forward cemeteries that were in use at the time. The cemeteries were Foncquevillers, Hebuterne, Sucrerie, Auchonvillers, Mesnil Ridge and Hamel.
The dates I give are imprecise because it could have been that there were no deaths for a few days or the first deaths could have been amongst an advanced party.
The 4th Division were deployed about 27th July 1915. They used Sucrerie, Auchonvillers, Mesnil Ridge and Hamel cemeteries so we can assume that their sector was from just south of Serre to the Ancre.
48th Division also deployed about the end of July 1915. They used Foncquevillers and Hebuterne cemeteries initially but ceased to use Foncquevillers after January 1916 and started to use Sucrerie between March and April 1916. We can assume that their sector was from Gommeourt to just south of Serre.
37th Division deployed in early September 1916. They used Foncquevillers cemetery so we can assume they came in to the north of 48th division.
36th Division deployed at the beginning of November 1915. Between their initial deployment and the end of March 1916 they used Sucrerie, Auchonvillers, Mesnil Ridge and Hamel. After March they only used Hamel. This would suggest that their initial deployment covered the sector from the Ancre to Beaumont-Hamel and that after March they contracted to just half a brigade deployed from Mary Redan to the Ancre.
29th Division deployed in mid March 1916, replacing 36th Division between Beaumont-Hamel and Mary Redan. They used Auchonvillers and Mesnil Ridge Cemeteries.
31st Division deployed in front of Serre at the end of February 1916 and used Sucrerie cemetery.
46th Division deployed in early May 1916 to the north of 37th Division and 56th Division deployed to the south of 37th Division at the same time.
Can anyone with more knowledge of these times confirm or correct my assumptions?

Peter

Peter,
The 51st(Highland) Division were in the Bouzincourt-Albert-Aveluy area from 20th August 1915until 6th February 1916 when they moved to Roclincourt.
George

Full deployment details with a pretty good dating of 36th Div can be found on link below:-

http://www.freewebs.com/denbob/ulsterdivfrance.htm

Peter,

The 48th Division arrived between the 19th and 24th July 1915 taking over from the 42nd Brigade, 21st Division (French) the sector between La Signy farm and Hebuterne. To their left was the French 56th Division. The 48th extended to their left on the 1st and 2nd September and on the 3rd-5th they took over the area in front of Foncquevillers. At the same time the 37th Division extended right (south) as the French 56th Division moved out.

On the 13th/14th February 1916 the 48th extended still further left (north), taking over the sector of the 112th Brigade, 37th Division.

On 31st March the 31st Division took over the area opposite Serre from the 48th Division.

The 48th was then ordered to prepare for an attack opposite Hebuterne which task was given to the 144th Brigade. The targeted date for the attack was the 30th April.

Although a new trench was dug for this purpose it never took place because of the new offensive date of the 1st July and the 48th handed the Gommecourt sector over to the 56th and 46th Divisions at the beginning of May.

Hi

That is great stuff. I was picking up some casualties from the familiarisation period but the dates are much better now.

BMAC

I read, or misread, that 37th was deployed between 46 and 56 but it seems that that is not so. Thanks for that detail

Peter