Battle of Mouquet Farm

Battle of Mouquet Farm Part of the Battle of the Somme of World War I Mouquet Farm, Pozières by Fred Leist, 1917. Date 5 August–27 September 1916 Location 50°03′05″N 2°42′46″E / 50.051469°N 2.712734°E / 50.051469; 2.712734Coordinates: 50°03′05″N 2°42′46″E / 50.051469°N 2.712734°E / 50.051469; 2.712734 near Pozières, France Result Indecisive Belligerents United Kingdom Australia Canada  German Empire

v • d • e Battle of the Somme Main battles in small caps and other engagements below: Albert – Bazentin Ridge – Delville Wood – Pozières Ridge – Guillemont – Ginchy – Flers-Courcelette – Morval – Thiepval Ridge – Transloy Ridges – Ancre Heights – Ancre Montauban – Mametz – Fricourt – Contalmaison – la Boiselle – Gommecourt – Longueval – Trônes Wood – Ovillers – Fromelles – High Wood – Mouquet Farm – Martinpuich – Combles– Lesboeufs – Gueudecourt – Eaucourt l'Abbaye – le Sars – Butte de Warlencourt– Schwaben – Stuff Redoubts – Regina Trench – Beaumont Hamel Order of Battle

The Battle of Mouquet Farm, which began on 5 August 1916, was part of the Battle of the Somme and followed the Battle of Pozières. The farm was eventually captured on 27 September.

Battle

The capture of Mouquet Farm would severely destabilize the German hold on the fortress of Thiepval which had thus far withstood all British assaults.

During the battle, the Australian divisions of I Anzac Corps advanced northwest along the Pozières ridge towards the German strongpoint of Mouquet Farm, with British divisions supporting on the left. The approach to the farm, however, was under observation from German artillery spotters who were able to call down barrages on the attackers from three sides of the salient that had developed in the lines.^[1] This resulted in heavy casualties amongst the attackers before they even reached the farm, however, over the course of August and into September, the Australian divisions managed to reach the farm three times, only to be forced back each time.^[2]

I Anzac Corps suffered approximately 6,300 casualties and was so depleted that they had to be taken off the front for two months.^[3]

As that battle dragged on, the Canadian Corps took over from the Australians, who were withdrawn on 5 September. However, by the time the battle concluded in mid-September, the German garrison still held out. The farm was eventually captured on 27 September following the general attack of the Battle of Thiepval Ridge.

Aftermath

The battle of Mouquet Farm cost the ANZAC Corps the following casualties:

• 1st Australian Division — 2,650 officers and men
• 2nd Australian Division — (6^th Brigade only) 896 officers and men
• 4th Australian Division — 7,158 officers and men ^[4]

Aerial photograph of Mouquet Farm and defences in June 1916 (North at top). Farmhouse buildings are rectangular area at lower centre. Trench across top right is "Fabeck Graben". From lower centre a road no longer existing runs ENE to Courcelette; road at bottom heads SE towards Pozieres; road running WSW at bottom left connects with Thiepval-Pozieres road	Same area in September after shelling. The original farm building area is today clear land and the farm buildings were rebuilt south of the road

See also

• Media related to Battle of Mouquet Farm at Wikimedia Commons
• Battle of the Somme: order of battle

Notes

References

External links

• Contemporary photos of the battlesites
• Original photos