Ceylon and the Somme
July 1st always brings sombre memories for anyone interested in the Great War of 1914–1918, for that was the day the Battle of the Somme commenced. The largest planned offensive by the British Army, it was designed to pummel the German trenches into rubble during a week-long bombardment that used more than 1.7 million shells, followed by an infantry assault by 2.5 million Allied soldiers.
As we know, that first morning was a disaster. The British Army alone suffered 19,240 deaths amongst the 57,470 casualties. The lives lost included three young men from Ceylon. Part of the story of that morning has been related here, but more research has led to the need for a postscript.
Beaumont-Hamel
The principal British assault was towards the high ground (held by the enemy) known as Hawthorne Ridge, where the Germans had constructed a fort (schwerpunkt in German). The British had spent months digging tunnels beneath the German lines. Several huge mines were set to be blown to destroy the German strong-points and signal the start of the offensive.
The 29th Division of the British Army, commanded by Lt. General Sir Aylmer Hunter-Weston which included the 2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers and 16th (Public Schools) Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment, was the spearhead of the assault on Hawthorne Ridge.
