Capture of Martinpuich facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Capture of Martinpuich
Part of The Battle of the Somme, First World War
Battle of the Somme 1 July – 18 November 1916
Date 15 September 1916 Location Picardy, France 50°08′27″N 02°38′46″E / 50.14083°N 2.64611°E / 50.14083; 2.64611 Result British victory
Belligerents
Britain	Germany  Prussia
Commanders and leaders
Douglas Haig	Erich Falkenhayn Crown Prince Rupprecht
Strength
1 division	1 regiment
Casualties and losses
1,854	c. 700 prisoners

The Capture of Martinpuich happened on 15 September 1916. Martinpuich is a village in France, located about 18 miles south of Arras. It was an important place during the First World War.

In September 1914, German troops passed through Martinpuich. The village then became quiet until 1916. That year, British and French forces began the Battle of the Somme. British planes from the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) attacked German supply areas near the village. On 15 September, the 15th (Scottish) Division captured Martinpuich. This was part of a larger fight called the Battle of Flers–Courcelette.

The British took several hundred German soldiers as prisoners. After the village was captured, a light railway was fixed for supplies. Martinpuich was lost again in March 1918 during a German attack. However, British forces recaptured it for the last time in August 1918.

Why Martinpuich Was Important

Early Days of the War (1914–1915)

German troops reached Martinpuich in September 1914. This was during the Battle of Albert. After this, fighting in the area became less intense. Soldiers mostly did small raids and night patrols.

The Somme Battle Begins (1916)

In 1916, Martinpuich became a key spot. German soldiers used it as a place to move to the front lines. Wounded soldiers were also brought through the village. British planes often flew over Martinpuich. On 30 July, a British air raid caused a huge explosion in the village. The fire from this explosion burned for a long time.

Getting Ready for Battle

British Preparations

British forces carefully bombed German positions near Martinpuich. Airplanes took photos to check the damage. British soldiers also dug new trenches closer to the German lines. These trenches were given fun names like Egg, Bacon, Ham, and Liver. They also gathered bombs and ammunition. Medical stations were set up, and water supplies were made ready.

Soldiers practiced their attack for eight days. They used ground that looked like the area south of Martinpuich. Two days before the attack, more troops joined the 15th (Scottish) Division. On the night of 14 September, the attacking soldiers moved into their starting trenches.

The British Attack Plan

German defensive lines around Martinpuich, Somme 1916

The British had clear goals for their attack. The first goal was to capture an area about 600 yards ahead. The second goal was to push another 500 to 800 yards forward. The final goal was to surround Martinpuich village. This would also help them get around German artillery.

Many cannons were ready to support the attack. There were 228 field guns and 64 howitzers. Eight tanks were also assigned to help. These tanks moved into position at night. Airplanes flew overhead to hide the noise of the tanks.

The plan was for the artillery to create a "creeping barrage." This meant the shells would move forward slowly, about 50 yards per minute. This barrage would keep the German soldiers' heads down. There was a special "tank lane" where no shells would fall, so the tanks could advance safely. The attack was set to start at 6:20 a.m. on 15 September.

German Defenses

In June 1916, German headquarters in the villages became unsafe due to British bombing. French civilians in Martinpuich were moved away. By September 1916, German soldiers from the 3rd Bavarian Division held Martinpuich. They had trenches and defensive lines around the village.

German leaders decided to change their defense tactics. They wanted a more "elastic" defense. This meant they would not try to hold every piece of ground. Instead, they would allow small breakthroughs and then counter-attack.

The Battle for Martinpuich

15 September 1916

The attack began at 6:20 a.m. The British 45th Brigade quickly moved forward. They captured several trenches easily and took prisoners. The final goal was reached just after 7:00 a.m. German soldiers reported that the British had broken through in the morning mist.

The 46th Brigade on the left also advanced. British planes watched the attack from above. By 9:30 a.m., they reported that the Scottish troops were at the southern edge of the village. German defenses quickly fell apart as the Scottish soldiers pushed forward. Many German prisoners were taken. The British had surprised the defenders.

After getting reports that the south end of the village was empty, the British commander ordered troops to move into Martinpuich. The advance into the village started at 3:00 p.m. On the right, the 45th Brigade pushed through the northeast of the village. They forced 189 German soldiers to surrender. The British then dug new strong points around the village. On the left, the 46th Brigade met little resistance. During the night, the British used captured German supplies to strengthen their new positions. German forces tried to counter-attack at 5:30 p.m. between High Wood and Martinpuich, but they did not attack the village itself.

16 September 1916

Two small German counter-attacks happened early on 16 September. Both were pushed back by the British. Later, the 46th Brigade moved its left flank forward. In the afternoon, they began digging new advanced posts.

After the Battle

Casualties

The 15th Division had 1,854 soldiers killed or wounded on 15–16 September. The British took about 600 to 700 German prisoners. These prisoners came from several different German units.

What Happened Next

A medical station was built in Martinpuich. A light railway was also repaired to bring supplies to the village. In November 1916, German commanders noted that the British were digging in for winter. This suggested that major attacks would slow down. British artillery fire continued, but German guns had limited ammunition. German counter-attacks were often canceled due to a lack of troops.

Martinpuich was lost again on 25 March 1918, during a big German attack. However, the British 17th (Northern) Division recaptured the village for the last time on 25 August 1918.