MONUMENT TO THE DEAD OF THE BRITISH 18TH DIVISION.
Trônes Wood was the scene of much desperate fighting between the British and the Germans during the first fortnight of July, 1916.
The struggle was almost incessant from July 8 to July 14, the wood changing hands seven times (the Germans say they lost and retook it eighteen times running). On both sides the greatest bravery was displayed, despite terrible losses. British progress was long stayed by a concrete blockhouse (still existent) in the middle of the wood, from which, through slits in the walls, enemy machine-guns rained death unceasingly on the assaulting columns.
A battalion of the Royal West Kents remained forty-eight hours cut off in a corner of the wood to the north-east, and repulsed many furious assaults without loss of ground.
The trees were hacked to pieces by the shells. Among the stumps may be seen trenches, shelters, blockhouses and small forts. In the middle, to the right of the road, is a pyramid erected to the memory of the officers and men of the British 18th Division, killed in 1916-1918 in the Battle of the Somme (photo above).
At the end of the wood, near a rail track on the right, and fifty yards from the road, is a concrete blockhouse (photo below).
TRÔNES WOOD. MACHINE-GUN BLOCKHOUSE.