Note.—In Happy Days with the 47th and 49th Divisions, by Benedict Williams (Harding and More, 1921, 7s. 6d.), there will be found many graphic descriptions of scenes in the Great Retreat, in the Advance from Albert in August and September, and in the final movements through Lille and Tournai.
48TH (SOUTH MIDLAND) DIVISION
First Line
The 48th Division sailed for France in March 1915. The outstanding features in their war experiences are their long and memorable services in the Battle of the Somme in 1916, and in the Third Battle of Ypres, 1917, and their most successful advance in Italy in the last few days of the war with Austria.
The Division was present as part of the VIII. Corps at the Somme on 1st July, when the battle commenced, but fortunately for them they were in support that day and had an opportunity of learning from the misfortunes of the divisions in the front rank at that part of the line. The fighting 1st-13th July is now designated the “Battle of Albert, 1916.” About 15th July the Division was transferred to the III. Corps.
On 16th July the 143rd Brigade made a very fine advance in the “Battle of Bazentin Ridge,” and the capture of Ovillers was completed, the Division securing ground to the north and east of the village. During the ensuing fortnight the Division had constant and very heavy fighting.
Pozières was the next objective. The Australians attacked from the south on 23rd July and the 48th on their left from the south-west. Both attacks were pushed home with splendid resolution and by the 29th July the 48th had secured its objectives north of the village. On the 27th the 145th Brigade did exceptionally well. After a short rest the Division was, about 10th August, again in the line, pushing towards the ridge. A strong counter-attack was driven back on the 17th and on the 18th the 143rd Brigade captured a big stretch of trenches and 600 prisoners. The fighting 23rd July-3rd September is now designated the “Battle of Pozières Ridge.” There were few tougher struggles in the whole course of the war.
When the arrival of winter and oceans of mud made offensive operations an impossibility, the Division, as part of the III. Corps, was still on the Somme.
In the despatch of 23rd December, 1916, paragraph 14 (Dent’s edition), Sir Douglas Haig said: “On the 16th July a large body of the garrison of Ovillers surrendered, and that night and during the following day, by a direct advance from the west across No Man’s Land, our troops (48th Division, Major-General R. Fanshawe) carried the remainder of the village and pushed out along the spur to the north and eastwards towards Pozières.”
Paragraph 17: “An assault delivered simultaneously on this date—23rd July—by General Gough’s Army (1st Australian Division and 48th Division) against Pozières gained considerable results, and by the morning of 25th July the whole of that village was carried, including the cemetery, and important progress was made along the enemy’s trenches to the north-east.”
Paragraph 19: “Apart from the operations already described others of a minor character, yet involving much fierce and obstinate fighting, continued during this period (August). Our lines were pushed forward,” etc. Among the troops mentioned in a note as engaged was the 48th Division.