ALEXANDER BAIRD 2

THE SOMME

Following the Loos battle, Alexander Baird and his comrades in 7th and 8th KOSB amalgamated , and the 15th Division experienced a period of rest, reinforcement and recuperation before the build up to the July Somme offensive.

Inevitably, the 15th (Scottish) Division and 7/8th K.O.S.B would be involved in the Battle of the Somme, which officially lasted from 1 July to 18 November 1916. The battalion (and division) were not involved initial stage of the Somme battles: Alexander and his comrades from 7th/8th K.O.S.B. were involved from 23 July to 3 September 1916.

The British Army preparations in the spring of1916 were part of the long-term preparation for the Somme offensive, the Big Push. As part of the preparations, the 15th Division was involved in German gas attacks near Hulluch (27-29 April 1916) and in the defence of the “Kink Position” (11 May 1916). These were engagements officially known as the Actions of Spring 1916, setting up a springboard for the main Somme offensive.

Alexander and the 15th Division took part in the following actions , all phases of the battles of the Somme:

Alexander would go on to see action in the Battles of the Somme (Martinpuich and Falfemount Farm, Vimy Ridge and the 3rd Battle of the Scarpe) until his luck run out in the Arras on 14th May 1917 in Oppy Wood when he became a casualty as a result of random shellfire in what was a quiet area.

(source: Long, Long Trail)

The battles marked * are phases of the Battles of the Somme 1916

Alexander Baird and the 7th/8th K.O.S.B. is a useful example of how battalions were managed using a rotation system.

The battalion joined the Somme Battle on 23rd July and rotated battalions within a brigade. Rotation would consist of “resting” (in the way of armies, a comparative expression), “reserve” and “front line”, for 7th/8th KOSB within the 46th Brigade of the 15th (Scottish) Division

• 28 July 1916 Alexander and comrades reach Candas from Bethune sector

• Flesselles - 31st July

• Molliens-au-Bois - 4th August

• Franvillers - 5th August

• Becourt - 7th August then to forward positions near Martinpuich.

German counter – attack, 17th August 1916 - Casualties - 224

• 18th August - Relieved by 10th Scottish Rifles: in camp, Albert (Amiens Road)

• To support trenches 29th August

• Front line 31st August

• In the period 4th/5th September, 7/8th K.O.S.B were relieved from front line to Divisional Reserve at Scots Redoubt in the old German line

(Source: Gerald GLIDDON, p367)

Moved forward, 14th September  

Attack and capture of Martinpuich – 15th September 

Battalion relieved: to Behencourt, 18th September 28th  

The War Diary gives casualties since arriving in Fourth Army area (28th July) as 34 officers and 886 other ranks. 

• To Albert - 30th September,

• To Scots Redoubt - 9th October.

• Took over trenches near Le Sars - 15th October.

• To Lozenge Wood -18th October

• Front line - 28th October

• Millencourt - 3rd November

• Baizieux 13th November. Later to Havernas and Wargnies

All the infantry battalions on the Somme are traced in the book “Tracing British Battalions on the Somme” by Ray Westlake and is essential for an understanding of, well, British battalions on the Somme. It evidences the way battalions and Divisions were rotated so that the battalions were out of the front line more than they were in it. The system was used by both the British and Canadians and was seen as a way of managing the well-being of men in the front line.

Gerald Gliddon’s “The Battle of the Somme - a Topographical History” also adds to the knowledge pool.