Notes on an Enemy Trench Raid on the Somme

Some Serious-Looking German Trench Raiders

After almost 2 days' incessant bombardment on the part of the enemy of our trenches S. of TOUVENT FARM,  [near Serre on Somme sector] a large party of the enemy were seen at 5.30 p.m. on the 19th Feb. 1916 working on their wire along their front line trench...The O.C. Lancashire Fusiliers at once ordered the machine-guns, Lewis guns and Artillery, to open fire on this party.

This was followed almost immediately by a heavy bombardment by the enemy of our front and support line trenches S. of TOUVENT FARM. Later a barrage was formed with gas and other shells, in the vicinity of the reserve Company, who were forced to put on their smoke helmets...

The Location of the Raid Was Just South  (to the right)
of Touvent Farm

During this bombardment a party of the enemy estimated at about 110 strong entered a small part of our trench (trench 82) which had been previously rendered easy of access by a heavy bombardment early in the morning, by heavy trench mortars directed on this one spot. Large craters had been formed and the wire very badly damaged. This place having been thus damaged was only held by a listening post of two men supported close in rear by a post of 7 men.

The enemy on entering, after disposing of this listening post, as well as the group in rear, who were all killed, turned with the evident intention of bombing northwards along the front line trench.

Capt. Gamon, Lancashire Fusiliers, the Officer in command of the Company taking the situation well in hand, at once ordered Lt. MacMullan to move up the platoon to the counter-attack. This was promptly carried out and after a hard hand to hand fight drove the enemy out of the trench at the point of the bayonet.

The whole operation was well carried out, & as the Company supports moved forward to the counter-attack, the men of the Reserve Company still wearing their smoke helmets moved slowly forward to replace them.

Our casualties were 7 killed, 1 Officer and 17 men wounded, 1 Officer and 4 men missing.

The enemy's casualties are unknown, but are believed to be heavy as throughout this period the Artillery kept up a very effective barrage in front of and along their trenches. So far 7 dead Germans have been counted lying out in front of our trenches, whilst more dead may yet be found in the numerous shell holes and in the trenches themselves, which are in a bad state.

Nothing was taken away by the enemy.

(Sgd.) D. Burt-Marshall, Captain. General Staff, 48th Division.

Note: Capt. Gammon was later killed in action, 1 July 1917

Sources: Pierreswesternfront.nl (map);  WFA & Imperial War Museum Websites