The Tragic Charge of the 10th West Yorks at Fricourt on the First Day of the Somme

On July 1, 1916, the first day of the Somme offensive, the 10th Battalion of the West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) made a tragic charge that would become one of the most famous and disastrous in British military history.

Good luck, Jack: the tragic charge of the 10th West Yorks at Fricourt on the First Day of the Somme

by Andrew Macdonald

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Language	:	English
File size	:	2731 KB
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The battalion was part of the 49th (West Riding) Division, which was tasked with attacking the German lines at Fricourt, a village on the Somme River. The 10th West Yorks was in the center of the division's line, with the 9th West Yorks on its left and the 11th West Yorks on its right.

The attack began at 7:30 a.m., with the battalions advancing behind a creeping barrage of artillery fire. The barrage was intended to suppress the German defenders and clear a path for the infantry. However, the barrage was not effective, and the German machine guns opened fire on the advancing British troops.

The 10th West Yorks was hit particularly hard. The battalion's commander, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Landon, was killed early in the attack, and the battalion's second-in-command, Major Arthur Eliot, was wounded. The battalion's ranks were decimated by the German machine gun fire, and within minutes, it was clear that the attack had failed.

The survivors of the 10th West Yorks were forced to retreat back to their starting positions. The battalion had suffered heavy casualties, with over 600 men killed or wounded. The battalion's charge at Fricourt was a tragic waste of life, and it served as a reminder of the terrible cost of the Somme offensive.

The Aftermath of the Charge

The charge of the 10th West Yorks at Fricourt had a profound impact on the British Army. The battalion's losses were so heavy that it was effectively wiped out. The battalion's survivors were sent to other units, and the 10th West Yorks was not reformed until after the war.

The charge also had a significant impact on the morale of the British Army. The British public was shocked by the news of the battalion's losses, and the charge became a symbol of the futility of the Somme offensive.

The Legacy of the Charge

The charge of the 10th West Yorks at Fricourt is still remembered today as one of the most tragic and disastrous events in British military history. The battalion's charge is often cited as an example of the futility of war, and it serves as a reminder of the terrible cost of the Somme offensive.

The charge of the 10th West Yorks is also remembered for the bravery of the battalion's soldiers. Despite the overwhelming odds, the battalion's soldiers fought with great courage and determination. The battalion's charge is a testament to the indomitable spirit of the British Army.

The charge of the 10th West Yorks at Fricourt on the First Day of the Somme was a tragic waste of life. The battalion's losses were so heavy that it was effectively wiped out. The charge also had a significant impact on the morale of the British Army and the British public.

The charge of the 10th West Yorks is still remembered today as one of the most tragic and disastrous events in British military history. The battalion's charge is often cited as an example of the futility of war, and it serves as a reminder of the terrible cost of the Somme offensive.

However, the charge of the 10th West Yorks is also remembered for the bravery of the battalion's soldiers. Despite the overwhelming odds, the battalion's soldiers fought with great courage and determination. The battalion's charge is a testament to the indomitable spirit of the British Army.

Good luck, Jack: the tragic charge of the 10th West Yorks at Fricourt on the First Day of the Somme

by Andrew Macdonald

4.1 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2731 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	17 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE