Hello Everyone

Has anyone heard of a wood in the Thiepval sector called Oblong Wood?

Any help gratefully accepted

Andy

Yes being the simple answer...don't know it's exact whereabouts though. The 1/7th West Riding were there in July 1916

cheers, Jon

Hello Jon

The reason I want to know where oblong wood is is because the 1/7th Dukes were there in July 1916

Andy

Here it is, Max, marked on the lower right, in a trench map dated August 1916. The wood itself was in no-mans land prior to 1st July 1916 - the Germans held the land jutting to its west as a slight salient then

Alan

...and a modern map with its postion marked, in relation to the Ulster Tower, Thiepval Wood and the Connaught and Mill Road Cemeteries. As you can see, no trace exists at all today. The Battleground Guide to Thiepval states that the trees of Oblong Wood "were still intact until very recently".

Alan

Nice one Alan...Oblong Wood has been on my list of whereabouts for a while...don't supose you know where Celestine Wood (Maricourt) is?

cheers, Jon

I can find a reference to Bois de Celestine near Bray, which isn't that far from Maricourt - http://www.themanchesters.org/salmon%20twist.htm - might that be it?

Found it - SW of Bray - modern map to follow - is this likely to be the one you're looking for?

Here you go...

Alan

According to "thiepval" battleground europe series of books, oblong wood lay in no mans land just beyond diamond wood (diamond wood lay on german front line), Oblong wood was connected to the british lines by a sap... It lay in the path of the assault made by the 1st salford pals on 1st July.

Alan yer a star, just checked my notes and it was Morlancourt, not Maricourt. One of my fellas was reported 'drowned' while the battalion were in bivouacs in the wood.
Have a malt on me fella,

cheers, Jon

ps...thanks for starting the thread Max