The 46th (North Midland) Division at Gommecourt 1st July 1916
Alan MacDonald
Published by Iona Books February 2008
ISBN 978-0-9558119-0-6
Also available from author at www.gommecourt.co.uk
Reviewed by Wayne Young
“A Lack of Offensive Spirit” comes as a welcome companion to “Pro Patria Mori” published in 2006 by the same author (and WFA member) Bill MacCormick (writing under the family pseudonym Alan MacDonald). It records the actions of the 56th London Division at Gommecourt on the 1st July 1916. The current book completes the story by describing the actions of the 46th North Midland Division, and their part in that tragic diversion.
The book begins with the pre war origin and social make up of this North Midland territorial Division, and goes on to describe their old volunteer beginnings and links to communities throughout the black country, Leicestershire and Lincolnshire. The early chapters complete the formation of the division and its embarkation to France, and early trench experience, culminating in its baptism of fire at the Hohenzollern Redoubt, at the end of the battle of Loos in October 1915. The move to the Somme comes soon after an unpleasant spell relieving the French on Vimy Ridge.
The narrative now concentrates in detail on the division’s experiences in the line at Gommecourt. The story is followed in diary form throughout May and June, use of the various unit war diaries emphasising the huge efforts made to prepare the sector for the coming offensive. Outstanding use of the Field Ambulance records are made to reveal the high levels of sickness suffered throughout the division, further hampering the preparation required. The role of the artillery comes under the same spotlight with extensive research revealing delayed battery position preparation and ammunition firing returns falling short of planned expenditure. Frequent gun failure is also revealed, all explaining the short comings of the preliminary bombardment.
The heart of the book covers the assault by the infantry, this is arranged by brigade. Ample use is made of IGN present day maps overlaid with the trenches, coupled with present day photographs of the ground, help to keep the reader orientated. The text is vivid and detailed, with the emphasis firmly on the fighting men. I particularly liked the foot note biographies of the officers and men featured in the text. Equally useful and illuminating are the extended biographies of the senior generals. Rather like his original book, this is a similar passionate labour of love, and unfettered by publishing constraints, it pulls no punches and takes no prisoners in views and opinions expressed on the conduct of the commanders and their decisions taken during that fateful day.
Following the fighting the story moves to the aftermath, and subsequent enquiry into the Division’s failure at Gommecourt. The author unveils a rich seam of survivors’ accounts, and concludes with the bitter personal post war efforts of the divisional commander Stuart Wortley to restore his reputation. The closing chapters deal with the casualties, with exhaustive battalion rolls of officers and men. To conclude the book there are numerous appendices including a fascinating account of the post battlefield clearance and resulting re-burials. Also there is a very useful battlefield and cemetery guide, as well as an excellent order of battle, a bibliography and last but by no means least, a comprehensive index.
This book deserves to be widely read for a number of reasons; it completes the story of an often neglected part of the first day on the Somme history, and it is extremely well researched providing deep insights into all aspects of the planning and execution of the assault. The 46th division erected several battlefield memorials after the war, indeed a new memorial has been placed near the Hohenzollern redoubt, on the old Loos battlefield, this book will help to increase knowledge, appreciation and remembrance of the first territorial division to join the BEF in France and Belgium.
