Battle of the Yser
Pozières
23 July – 5 August 1916
The main street of Pozières after the German bombardments of July–August 1916. [AWM EZ0097]
In late July 1916, the Australian Imperial Force fought its first action in the Battle of the Somme. At this point the British strategy focused on the seizure of the ridge east of Pozières village from where an attack could be mounted on German strongholds further north at Thiepval which had not fallen to British attack on the opening day of the battle, 1 July 1916. By the time the Australians entered the Somme battle the operation had become a series of attacks aimed not so much at a break-through of the German lines as the capture of key positions and the wearing down of the enemy.
Between 23 July and 5 August 1916, the Australian First and Second Divisions captured Pozières village and Pozières heights, a ridge 500 metres east of the village. The initial attack began at 12.30 am on Sunday 23 July when the First Division seized the German front line and in the following hour reached the main road through Pozières. At dawn the Germans counter-attacked but the Australians held on.
The rest of Pozières fell on the night of 23–24 July and further gains were made on the night of 24–25 July. The Germans reacted to the seizure of Pozières by concentrating the bulk of their artillery on the Australians. Constant barrages were directed onto the village and the narrow approaches creating a nightmarish situation for troops forming up and attacking in the dark.
The severe German bombardment of Pozières, which continued for three days, was a new and unnerving experience for the Australians. In five days the First Division suffered 5285 casualties, killed and wounded. By 27 July, the 2nd Division had taken over in Pozières.
The overall commander of British operations in this sector, General Sir Hubert Gough, now ordered the Second Division to take the OG lines on Pozières heights. The attack commenced at 12.15 am on 29 July but the German machine-gunners were ready and their fire was terrific. The attack, except on the right flank, failed at a cost of 3500 casualties.
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Despite this loss, Major General Legge, commanding the Second Division, asked that his men might attack again rather than be withdrawn after failure. The attack was to commence just before dark when the OG lines were clearly visible and, in order for the attacking troops to be undetected, deep approach and jumping-off trenches were dug. These were subjected to constant German bombardment causing many to break down under the intense strain. Following three minutes of intense bombardment on 4 August 1916, OG1 was rushed at 9.15 pm and OG2 15 minutes later. The Australians advanced to be almost among their own falling shells which meant the Germans had insufficient time to leave their dugouts and set up their machine guns. Pozières heights and the OG lines along the ridge were finally seized.
The Australians at last looked over the wide, shallow valley behind Pozières heights. They could see the movement of soldiers, guns and supplies in the German rear lines. The exhausted Second Australian Division was now rested having suffered 6848 casualties, the greatest number ever endured by an Australian division in one tour in the front line.
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© 2008 Department of Veterans' Affairs and Board of Studies NSW :: Last update - November 2008