Somme Campaign Significance

1) INTRO:
The Somme Campaign is a series of battles that took place along the Somme Valley in France between July 1st and November 19th 1916. It was the first major Anglo-French offensive on the Western Front. A lack of context has allowed it to become one of the most controversial battles in history due to the immense number of casualties that it caused over a small area of little strategic importance, however, the Somme was simply an episode – albeit an integral one - in the larger military continuum of a war of attrition. During the course of this essay, the significance of the Somme will be examined in terms of territory, casualties, Anglo (BEF)-French relations, tactics, technology, the contribution of empire forces, supplies and logistics

In 1916, Newfoundland and Labrador contributed at the battle of Beaumont Hamel on July 1st. On the 15th of July, the 1st South African Infantry Brigade captured the majority of Delville Wood and endured German counterattacks for six days. Between July 23rd and August 5th 1916, the Australian 1st and 2nd Divisions captured Pozières village and Pozières heights, a ridge 500 metres east of the village. On the 12th of September New Zealand artillery fired poison-gas shells for the first time and three days later assisted the capture of the village of Flers. The Canadian corps captured a series of strategic objectives including Courcelette, Thiepval and Ancre Heights and in November the 4th Division helped capture the German stronghold of Regina Trench alongside the British. Empire forces contributions were not limited to the military and included medical services for troops and civilians such as the 550 nurses that served with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force and the many others who enlisted in the Britain. Empire forces continued to support the British in 1917 and 1918. In the spring of 1917, Canadian troops were sent to capture Vimy Ridge, which lead to Canada’s greatest victory in the war followed by another at Passchendaele in November. The Somme saw the first major contribution on a large scale by Empire troops and this was carried on in the last 2 years of the