The Battle of Delville Wood was a subsidiary attack of the Somme Offensive, fought between the British and German armies from July 15 - September 3, 1916. The battle took place on a front of about 5 miles on the Somme battlefield in France.
The British objective was to capture the German-held Delville Wood, which was a key strategic position. The wood overlooked the British lines and provided the Germans with excellent observation and artillery fire positions.
The battle began on July 15, with a massive artillery bombardment of the German lines. The bombardment lasted for several hours and was intended to destroy the German defenses and weaken their morale.
After the bombardment, the British infantry attacked. The attack was successful, and the British were able to capture the southern edge of the wood. However, the Germans counterattacked several times, and the British were unable to hold onto all of their gains.
The battle continued for over two months, with the British and Germans fighting for control of the wood. The fighting was fierce, and both sides suffered heavy casualties.
The battle finally ended on September 3, when the British were able to capture the entire wood. However, the victory came at a high cost. The British suffered over 7,000 casualties, and the Germans suffered over 9,000 casualties.
The Battle of Delville Wood was a costly victory for the British. However, the capture of the wood was a significant strategic gain. The wood provided the British with excellent observation and artillery fire positions, and it helped to break the deadlock on the Somme battlefield.
The Battle of Delville Wood is also notable for the role played by the South African Brigade. The South Africans were tasked with capturing the wood, and they fought bravely and tenaciously.
The South Africans suffered over 2,000 casualties, making the Battle of Delville Wood the most costly action the South African Brigade fought on the Western Front.
The Battle of Delville Wood is a reminder of the terrible cost of war.
The battle was fought over a small piece of land, but it claimed the lives of thousands of men. The battle also shows the courage and determination of the soldiers who fought in it.