Capture of Trônes Wood
Encyclopedia
Trônes Wood is located to the south east of the town of Longueval
in the département of the Somme
in northern France
. The Capture of Trônes Wood was an action in the First World War between British
and German
forces as part of the larger Battle of the Somme. The wood formed part of the German second defence line and provided cover for German rifle, machine gun and artillery fire covering the southerly access routes to the fortified town of Longueval. As part of a large offensive starting on 14 July, General Douglas Haig
, Commander of the Allied Armies intended to secure the British right flank
, while the centre advanced to capture the higher lying areas in the centre of his line. In order to capture Longueval
and the adjoining Delville Wood, Trônes Wood had to be cleared of German forces to protect the right flank of the British forces attacking north towards Longueval
.
The battle for the capture of Trônes Wood started on 14 July 1916 and by afternoon of 15 July, the British 14th (Light) Division and 18th (Eastern) Division had succeeded in taking the wood, led by Major General Ivor Maxse
of the 18th (Eastern) Division. This allowed the 9th Division
to successfully advance to, and after protracted battles, capture Longueval
and Delville Wood.
Longueval
Longueval is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Longueval is located 24 miles northwest of Amiens on the D919 road, at the junction with the D8....
in the département of the Somme
Somme
Somme is a department of France, located in the north of the country and named after the Somme river. It is part of the Picardy region of France....
in northern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The Capture of Trônes Wood was an action in the First World War between British
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
and German
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
forces as part of the larger Battle of the Somme. The wood formed part of the German second defence line and provided cover for German rifle, machine gun and artillery fire covering the southerly access routes to the fortified town of Longueval. As part of a large offensive starting on 14 July, General Douglas Haig
Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig
Field Marshal Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig, KT, GCB, OM, GCVO, KCIE, ADC, was a British senior officer during World War I. He commanded the British Expeditionary Force from 1915 to the end of the War...
, Commander of the Allied Armies intended to secure the British right flank
Flanking maneuver
In military tactics, a flanking maneuver, also called a flank attack, is an attack on the sides of an opposing force. If a flanking maneuver succeeds, the opposing force would be surrounded from two or more directions, which significantly reduces the maneuverability of the outflanked force and its...
, while the centre advanced to capture the higher lying areas in the centre of his line. In order to capture Longueval
Longueval
Longueval is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Longueval is located 24 miles northwest of Amiens on the D919 road, at the junction with the D8....
and the adjoining Delville Wood, Trônes Wood had to be cleared of German forces to protect the right flank of the British forces attacking north towards Longueval
Longueval
Longueval is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Longueval is located 24 miles northwest of Amiens on the D919 road, at the junction with the D8....
.
The battle for the capture of Trônes Wood started on 14 July 1916 and by afternoon of 15 July, the British 14th (Light) Division and 18th (Eastern) Division had succeeded in taking the wood, led by Major General Ivor Maxse
Ivor Maxse
General Sir Ivor Maxse, KCB, CVO, DSO, was a World War I general, best known for his innovative and effective training methods.-Early life:Maxse was educated at Mr...
of the 18th (Eastern) Division. This allowed the 9th Division
9th Division
9th Division, 9th Infantry Division or 9th Armoured Division may refer to:- Infantry divisions :* 9th Division * 9th Division * 9th Reserve Division * 9th Bavarian Reserve Division...
to successfully advance to, and after protracted battles, capture Longueval
Longueval
Longueval is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Longueval is located 24 miles northwest of Amiens on the D919 road, at the junction with the D8....
and Delville Wood.
British Order of Battle
 14th (Light) Division 14–15 July 1916 |
||
| Commander: | ||
| Infantry: | 41st Brigade | 7th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps |
| 8th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps | ||
| 7th Battalion, Rifle Brigade | ||
| 8th Battalion, Rifle Brigade | ||
| 42nd Brigade | 5th Battalion, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Regt | |
| 5th Battalion, King's Stropshire Light Regt | ||
| 9th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps | ||
| 9th Battalion, Rifle Brigade | ||
| 43rd Brigade | 6th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry | |
| 6th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Inf | ||
| 6th Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Lt Inf | ||
| 10th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry Regiment | ||
| Engineers and Support: |
11th Battalion, King's Regiment (Pioneers) | |
| 18th (Eastern) Division 14–15 July 1916 |
||
| Commander: Major General Ivor Maxse Ivor Maxse General Sir Ivor Maxse, KCB, CVO, DSO, was a World War I general, best known for his innovative and effective training methods.-Early life:Maxse was educated at Mr... |
||
| Infantry: | 53rd Brigade | 8th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment |
| 8th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment | ||
| 10th Battalion, Essex Regiment | ||
| 6th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment | ||
| 54th Brigade | 11th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers | |
| 7th Battalion, Bedford Regiment | ||
| 8th Battalion, Northampton Regiment | ||
| 12th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment | ||
| 55th Brigade | 7th Battalion, Queen's Regiment | |
| 7th Battalion, Buffs (Royal East Kent) Regiment | ||
| 8th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment | ||
| 7th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment | ||
| Engineers and Support: |
8th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment | |