7th January 1916 On this day:  Reorganisation SS Andania departs Malta   The SS Andania sails from Valetta Harbour, Malta heading for Egypt, the 13th Battalion Yorks and Lancs Regt are amongst her passengers.  Heavy Attack  7th Northumberlands into Trenches  Losses during Withdrawal  Pride in Their Work  Interview with a Captain  Enemy Active  Trench Work  Preparations  On the Move  On the Move  Patrols  Patrols    On the Move  Training  In the Trenches  Reliefs  Reliefs  More Moves  Reliefs  In Billets  Awards  Observation Post  Drill  On the Move  Orders Received  On the Move  Working Parties  On the March  A Combined Shoot  Two Companies bathed at Divisional bath's.  A March to La Bourse  Musketry practice  Accident  March back to Lillers  On the Move  Training  Heavy Artillery fire  Brigade Order No. 27. B.M. 816.  Relieved  Working Party of 100 men  Posting  Reliefs  On the March  Casualties 8th Yorks and Lancs at the Battle of The Somme   Plans had long been in place for the great offensive along the line of the River Somme to draw the Germans away from Verdun to the East and so relieve the beleaguered French forces there. Despite what many people have been told about the Somme battle, it was never intended to be a war-winning campaign. It had clearly defined strategic aims, and in many respects was successful, it’s failures are extremely complex and outside the scope of this article. That it has become a by-word for failure and incompetence is, in my opinion, unfair. The huge and terrible loss of life has blinded us to any other interpretation but it is pertinent to remember that a German Staff Officer described the Somme as ‘the muddy grave of the German Field Army’. After the artillery barrage lifted, the battalions began their assault near the village of Ovillers at 7.30am, 1st July 1916. Immediately after leaving their trenches the battalion came under heavy machine gun fire and most of the men were killed or wounded. The remainder carried on and took the enemy front line trenches and about 70 men eventually reached as far as the third line of German trenches, but only one man returned from there! What was left of the battalion remained fighting in the first line of trenches until overwhelmed. Such was the ferocity of the fighting that the Germans were forced to move extra troops in to face the 70th Brigade and this enabled other British units to make significant advances. The 8th York and Lancaster Regiment took 680 men and 23 Officers over the parapet, all the Officers were either killed or wounded and of the battalion only 68 returned. The battalion had effectively ceased to exist as a fighting unit and was withdrawn that evening. The 8th K.O.Y.L.I.’s losses were only marginally less.  Appeal  Reliefs  Operational Order No.88  Working Party Can you add to this factual information? Do you know the whereabouts of a unit on a particular day? Do you have a copy of an official war diary entry? Details of an an incident? The loss of a ship? A letter, postcard, photo or any other interesting snipts? If your information relates only to an individual, eg. enlistment, award of a medal or death, please use this form: Add a story.

Killed, Wounded, Missing, Prisoner and Patient Reports published this day. This section is under construction.

Want to know more about 7th of January 1916? There are:51 items tagged 7th of January 1916 available in our Library   These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.

Remembering those who died this day, 7th of January 1916. Pte. Bertram Gower Asher. 7th Btn. North Staffordshire Regiment Read their Story. Pte. Robert Dobinson. 20th Tyneside Scottish Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers Read their Story. Pte. Arthur Evans. 2nd Btn Royal Fusiliers Read their Story. Cpl. Frederick Maddison. 9th (Service) Btn. Worcestershire Regiment Read their Story. L/Sjt. William Robert Marling. 23rd Battalion (Tyneside Scottish) Northumberland Fusiliers Read their Story. Pte. Ernest Marshall. 9th Battalion Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Read their Story. Pte. William Rushton. 7th Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment Read their Story. L/Cpl. Arthur Dennis Shine. 13th Battalion Royal Fusiliers Read their Story. Pte. Thomas Smith. 7th Btn North Staffordshire Regiment Read their Story. Pte. Bernard Stenson. 2nd Btn. Leicestershire Regiment Read their Story. Pte. Bernard Stenson. 2nd Btn. Leicestershire Regiment Read their Story. Rfmn. Ralph Henry Thomas. 9th Btn. Rifle Brigade Read their Story. Pte. Arthur Wilson. 22nd (3rd Tyneside Scottish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers Read their Story. Add a name to this list.

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