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The Battle of Delville Wood was fought from 14 July to 3 September 1916, one of the twelve battles of the Somme in 1916. It was fought by the British and French against the army of the German Empire in the Somme River valley in northern France . The battle was the début of the 1st South African Brigade (part of the 9th (Scottish) Division ) on the Western Front , which captured Delville Wood and held it from 15 to 19 July. The casualties of the brigade were similar to those of many British brigades on First day on the Somme (1 July 1916).
Delville Wood is well preserved with the remains of trenches, a museum and monument to the 1st South African Brigade. After the relief of the South Africans the battle for the wood continued until the end of August, when the last German footholds were captured by the 43rd Brigade of the 14th (Light) Division on 27 August. A large German counter-attack on 31 August regained part of the north edge of the wood until British attacks from 4 to 8 September, which secured the wood until the battles of 1918.
Orders of Battle
British and Dominion forces Map of the Longueval and Delville Wood area (commune FR insee code 80378)
Order of battle for actions associated with the capture of Trônes Wood: 14–15 July 1916. 14th (Light) Division Commander: Major-General V. A. Couper Infantry: 41st Brigade 7th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps 8th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps 7th Battalion, Rifle Brigade 8th Battalion, Rifle Brigade 42nd Brigade 5th Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry 5th Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry 9th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps 9th Battalion, Rifle Brigade 43rd Brigade 6th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry Regiment 6th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry 6th Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry 10th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry Regiment Engineers 11th Battalion, King's Regiment (Pioneers)
18th (Eastern) Division Commander: Major General I. Maxse Infantry: 53rd Brigade 8th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment 8th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment 10th Battalion, Essex Regiment 6th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment 54th Brigade 11th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment 8th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment 12th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment 55th Brigade 7th Battalion, Queen's Regiment 7th Battalion, Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment) 8th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment 7th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment Engineers 8th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment
Order of battle for actions associated with the capture of Longueval: 14–17 July 1916. 3rd Division Commander: Major-General J. A. Haldane then Major-General C. J. Deverell Infantry: 8th Brigade 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots 8th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment 7th Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry 1st Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers 9th Brigade 1st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers 4th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers 13th Battalion, King’s Regiment 12th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment 76th Brigade 8th Battalion, The King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment 10th Battalion, Royal Welsh Regiment 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders Engineers 20th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps
Order of battle for actions associated with the first capture of Delville Wood: 14 July – 3 September 1916 17th (Northern) Division Commander: Major-General P. R. Robertson Infantry: 50th Brigade 10th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment 7th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment 7th Battalion, Green Howards Regiment 6th Battalion, Dorset Regiment 51st Brigade 7th Battalion, Royal Lincolnshire Regiment 7th Battalion, Border Regiment 8th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment 10th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters Regiment 52nd Brigade 9th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers 10th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers 9th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment 12th Battalion, Manchester Regiment Engineers 7th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment
Order of battle for actions associated with holding Delville Wood: 4 September 1916 – April 1917 14th (Light) Division Commander: Major-General V. A. Couper Infantry: 41st Brigade 7th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps 8th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps 7th Battalion, Rifle Brigade 8th Battalion, Rifle Brigade 42nd Brigade 5th Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry 5th Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry 9th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps 9th Battalion, Rifle Brigade 43rd Brigade 6th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry Regiment 6th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry 6th Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry 10th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry Regiment Engineers 11th Battalion, King's Regiment (Pioneers)
Order of battle for actions associated with the second capture of Delville Wood: 1 – 28 August 1918 38th (Welsh) Division Commander: Major-General I. Phillips then Major-General C. G. Blackader Infantry: 113th Brigade 13th Bn, (1st North Wales), Royal Welsh Fusiliers 14th Bn, Royal Welsh Fusiliers 15th Bn, (1st London Welsh), Royal Welsh Fusiliers 16th Bn, Royal Welsh Fusiliers 114th Brigade 10th Battalion (1st Rhondda), Royal Welsh Regiment 13th Battalion (2nd Rhondda), Royal Welsh Regiment 15th Battalion (Carmarthenshire), Royal Welsh Regiment 14th Battalion (Swansea), Royal Welsh Regiment 115th Brigade 17th Bn, (2nd North Wales), Royal Welsh Fusiliers 10th Bn, (1st Gwent), South Wales Borderers 11th Bn, (2nd Gwent), South Wales Borderers 16th Bn, (Cardiff City), Royal Welsh Regiment Engineers 19th Battalion (Glamorgan Pioneers), Royal Welsh Regiment
South African casualties 1st South African Brigade: Casualties during the Battle of Delville Wood 14–20 July 1916 Brigade / Unit Unit strength Killed Wounded Missing / POW Died of wounds Total Casualties Effective unit Off* Other Total Off* Other Total Off* Other Total Off* Other Total Off* Other Total Off* Other Total Off* Other Total 1st Battalion 31 748 779 7 108 115 17 346 363 2 73 75 1 29 30 27 556 583 4 192 196 2nd Battalion 28 669 697 11 95 106 12 373 385 0 92 92 3 25 28 26 585 611 2 84 86 3rd Battalion 29 847 876 8 120 128 15 403 418 6 225 231 0 30 30 29 778 807 0 69 69 4th Battalion 27 672 699 4 104 108 15 293 308 1 84 85 0 32 32 20 513 533 7 159 166 Other 8 96 104 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 6 96 102 Total 123 3,032 3,155 30 427 457 61 1,415 1,476 9 474 483 4 116 120 104 2,432 2,536 19 600 619
Note: * = Officers
German Forces Order of battle for forces of the German Empire for actions in Trônes Wood, Longueval and Delville Wood: 14 July – 3 September 1916 3rd Guard Division Commander: Generalmajor von Lindequist Infantry: Garde–Infanterie–Brigade Nr. 6 Garde–Füsilier–Regiment Lehr Infantry Regiment Colbergsches-Grenadier-Regiment Graf Gneisenau Nr. 9 Cavalry: Garde Reserve Ulanen Regiment Artillery: Garde–Artillerie–Brigade Nr. 63 Garde–Feldartillerie–Regiment Nr. 5 II.Bataillon/Reserve–Fußartillerie–Regiment Nr. 6 Engineers 1. Kompanie/Pionier–Bataillon Nr. 28 Pionier–Kompanie Nr. 274 Garde–Minenwerfer–Kompanie Nr. 3 3rd Guards Telephone Detachment
5th Division Commander: Generalleutnant Wichura Infantry: Infanterie–Brigade (Brandenburgisches) Nr. 10 Grenadier–Regiment Nr. 8 Infanterie–Regiment von Alvensleben (6. Brandenburgisches) Nr. 52 Grenadier–Regiment Prinz Karl von Preußen (2. Brandenburgisches) Nr. 12 Field Machine Gun Company Cavalry: 1/2" Husaren–Regiment von Zieten (Brandenburgisches) Nr. 3 Artillery: 5.Feldartillerie–Brigade (Brandenburgisches) Feldartillerie–Regiment General–Feldzeugmeister (2. Brandenburgisches) Nr. 18 Neumärkisches Feldartillerie–Regiment Nr. 54 Engineers 1./Pionier–Bataillon von Rauch (1. Brandenb.) Nr. 3 3./Pionier–Bataillon von Rauch (1. Brandenburgisches) Nr. 3 Minenwerfer–Kompanie (Brandenburg) Nr. 5 5th Brandenburg Telephone Detachment
5th Bavarian Division Commander: Generalleutnant Endres Infantry: 9. bayerische Infanterie–Brigade Kgl. Bayerisches 14. Infanterie–Regiment Hartmann Kgl. Bayerisches 21. Infanterie–Regiment Großherzog von Mecklenburg–Schwerin 10. bayerische Infanterie–Brigade Kgl. Bayerisches 7. Infanterie–Regiment Prinz Leopold ment Kgl. Bayerisches 19. Infanterie–Regiment König Viktor Emanuel III. von Italien Cavalry: Kgl. Bayerisches 2. Chevaulegers–Regiment (2 Sqn's) Artillery: 5. bayerische Feldartillerie–Brigade Kgl. Bayerisches 6. Feldartillerie–Regiment Prinz Ferdinand von Bourbon, Herzog von Calab Kgl. Bayerisches 10. Feldartillerie–Regiment Flugabwehrkanone–Abteilung (Anti–Aircraft section) Engineers Minenwerfer–Kompanie (Bayerisches) Nr. 5 1 & 4.Kompanie/Kgl. Bayerisches 3. Pionier–Bataillon 5th Bavarian Pont. Engineers 5th Bavarian Telephone Detachment 84th Labour Battalion 1st Bavarian Balloon Squadron
7th Division Commander: Generalleutnant Riedel Infantry: 13. Infanterie–Brigade Infanterie–Regiment Fürst Leopold von Anhalt–Dessau (1. Magdeburgisches) Nr.26 Cavalry: 2.Eskadron/Magdeburgisches Husaren–Regiment Nr. 10 Artillery: Artillerie–Kommandeur 7 Feldartillerie–Regiment Prinz–Regent Luitpold von Bayern (Magdeburgisches) Nr. 4 Altmärkisches Feldartillerie–Regiment Nr. 40 Engineers 1./Magdeburgisches Pionier–Bataillon Nr. 4. 7 Pont Engineers 7th Telephone Detachment
8th Division Commander: General der Infanterie Ernst II. Herzog von Sachsen–Altenburg Infantry: 15. Infanterie–Brigade Altenburger Regiment 8. Thüringisches Infanterie–Regiment Nr. 93 16. Infanterie–Brigade Thüringische Infanterie–Regiment Nr.72 Thüringisches Infanterie–Regiment Nr. 153 Cavalry: "1/2" Magdeburgisches Husaren–Regiment Nr. 10 Artillery: 8. Feldartillerie–Brigade Torgauer Feldartillerie–Regiment Nr.74 Mansfelder Feldartillerie–Regiment Nr.75 Engineers Minenwerfer–Kompanie Nr. 8 2./Magdeburgisches Pionier–Bataillon Nr. 4 3./Magdeburgisches Pionier–Bataillon Nr. 4 8th Telephone Detachment
10th Bavarian Division Commander: Generalmajor Burkhardt Infantry: 20. bayerische Infanterie–Brigade Königlich Bayerische 16. Infanterie–Regiment Grossherzog Ferdinand von Toskana Bayerische 6. Reserve–Infanterie–Regiment Bayerische 8. Reserve–Infanterie–Regiment Cavalry: Bayerische 5. Kavallerie–Regiment Artillery: 10. bayerische Feldartillerie–Brigade Bayerisches 19. Feldartillerie–Regiment Bayerisches 20. Feldartillerie–Regiment Engineers Minenwerfer–Kompanie (Bayerisches) Nr. 10 20 Kompanie Nr. 4 (Bayerisches) Pionier–Bataillon 10th Pont. Engineers 10th Telephone Detachment
12th Reserve Division Commander: Generalmajor von Kehler Infantry: 22. Reserve–Infanterie–Brigade Remains of the Infanterie–Regiment von Winterfeldt (2. Oberschlesisches) Nr.23 Fusilier–Regiment Feldmarschall Graf Moltke (1.Schlesisches) Nr.38 (Ehrenstein–Riebel Bn) Cavalry: Reserve–Ulanen–Regiment Nr. 4 Artillery: Reserve–Feldartillerie–Regiment Nr. 12 7. & 32. Flugabwehrkanone–Abteilung (Anti–Aircraft sections) Engineers Reserve Minenwerfer–Kompanie Nr. 212 1.Reserve–Kompanie/Pionier–Bataillon Nr. 6 2.Reserve–Kompanie/Pionier–Bataillon Nr. 6 12th Reserve Telephone Detachment 8. bayerische Arbeit–Bataillon
17th Reserve Division Commander: Generalmajor von Zieten Infantry: 33rd Reserve Brigade Reserve Infanterie Regiment Nr.75 Schleswig–Holsteinisches Infanterie Regiment Nr. 163 Cavalry: Reserve Hussar Regiment Nr. 4 Artillery: 17th Reserve Feldartillerie–Regiment (10 Bty's) Engineers 4 Field Co 2.Pion Bn Nr. 9 Pionier Kompanie Nr. 340 Minenwerfer–Kompanie Nr.217 17 Res Pont Engineers
24th Saxon Reserve Division Commander: Generalmajor Morgenstern–Doring Infantry: Königlich Sächsische Reserve Infanterie Regiment Nr. 104 Königlich Sächsische Reserve Infanterie Regiment Nr. 107 Königlich Sächsische Reserve Infanterie Regiment Nr. 133 Cavalry: Kgl. Sächs. Reserve-Ulanen-Regiment (3x Sqn) Artillery: 24th Reserve Feldartillerie–Regiment (6 Bty's) 40th Reserve Feldartillerie–Regiment (6 Bty's) Engineers 3 Res Co 12.Pion Bn Reserve Pionier Kompanie Nr.4 Pionier Battalion Nr. 12 Minenwerfer–Kompanie Nr.224 24 Res Pont Engineers 24 Res Tele Detach
26th Division Commander: Generalleutenant Herzog Wilhelm von Urach Infantry: Grenadier–Regiment Königin Olga (1. Württembergisches) Nr.119 Infanterie Regiment Kaiser Friedrich, König von Preußen (7. Württembergisches) Nr.125 Infanterie Regiment Alt–Württemberg (3. Württembergisches) Nr.121 Cavalry: Uhlan Regiment Nr.20 (3 x Sqn) Artillery: Feldartillerie–Regiment Nr.29 Feldartillerie–Regiment Nr.65 Engineers Feldt–Pionier Kompanie Nr.1 and 5 Feldt–PionierBattalion Nr. 13 Minenwerfer–Kompanie Nr.26 26 Pont Engineers 26 Tele Detach
56th Division Commander: Generalmajor von Wichmann Infantry: Fusilier–Regiment Prinz Heinrich von Preußen (1. Brandenburgisches) Nr.35 2. Nassauisches Infanterie–Regiment Nr.88 Infanterie Regiment Prinz Carl (4.Großherzoglich Hessisches) Nr. 118 Cavalry: Uhlan Regiment Nr.17 (1 x Sqn) Artillery: 56. Feldartillerie–Brigade Feldartillerie–Regiment Nr.111 Feldartillerie–Regiment Nr.112 Engineers Feldt–Pionier Kompanie Nr.111 Feldt–Pionier Kompanie Nr.112 Feldt–Pionier Kompanie Nr.6 PionsierBattalion Nr. 26 Minenwerfer–Kompanie Nr.56
German trench Delville Wood, September 1916
References Memorial, South African Brigade Headquarters, Delville Wood.
Ewing, J. (2009) [1921]. The History of the Ninth (Scottish) Division 1914–1919 (Naval & Military Press ed.). London: John Murray. ISBN 978-1-84342-190-0 . Liddle, P. (2001) [1992]. The 1916 Battle of the Somme ISBN 978-1-84022-240-1 .Miles, W. (1992) [1938]. Military Operations in France and Belgium 1916: 2 July to the End of the Battles of the Somme . History of the Great War Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Historical Section of the Committee of Imperial Defence. Vol. II (Imperial War Museum & Battery Press ed.). London: Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-89839-169-5 . Miles, W. (1994) [1938]. Military Operations, France and Belgium 1916: Maps and Appendices . History of the Great War Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Historical Section of the Committee of Imperial Defence. Vol. II (Imperial War Museum & Battery Press ed.). London: Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-89839-207-4 . Moorhouse, B. (2003). Forged by Fire: The Battle Tactics and Soldiers of a World War One Battalion, The 7th Somerset Light Infantry (1st ed.). Staplehurst: Spellmount. ISBN 978-0-89839-207-4 . The Union of South Africa and the Great War 1914–1918: Official History (Imperial War Museum and Naval & Military Press ed.). Pretoria: Government Print and Stationery Office. 1924. ISBN 978-0-89839-207-4 . OCLC 16795056 .Uys, I. (1991). Rollcall: The Delville Wood Story . Germiston: Uys Publishers. ISBN 978-0-9583173-1-3 . Wyrall, E. (1921). The History of the Second Division, 1914–1918 OCLC 869415401 .
Further reading Books
Journals
Uys, I. (December 1986). "South Africans at Delville Wood" . South African Military History Journal . 7 (2). South African Military History Society/Die Suid-Afrikaanse Krygshistoriese Vereniging. ISSN 0026-4016 . Retrieved 5 August 2013 .
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