Somme: Contalmaison to Bazentin

Posted on August 19, 2023 by

9 Comments

For the final episode of Season 5 we are back on the Somme. At Contalmaison we discover the story of how the history of Great War football weaves through that village, how a pioneering eye surgeon from Liverpool came to be killed there, and later we uncover the story of the ‘Nine Brave Men’ at Bazentin. We look at Private Memorials and how Bazentin Wood almost broke the proud volunteers of the ‘Leicestershire Pals.’ in July 1916 and think once more about the ‘Forgotten Somme’.

Western Front Association: Nine Brave Memorial

Western Front Association: Captain Wallace Memorial

BATTLEFIELD MAP:

READING LIST:

Podcast Extras:

Category: Podcast Episode, Somme, WW1 History

9 Comments on “Somme: Contalmaison to Bazentin”

  2. Excellent Paul.
    Love this area of the battlefields.
    As an addition, as you walk into Bazentin Mil cemetery, the field/paddock to your left was the site of German Artillery positions.

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  3. I walked much of this ground in February, so this podcast was a great reminder.

    I have received four lots of laser surgery over the years to fix retinal tears, so I found Lt Col Walker’s story especially poignant.

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  4. Thanks Paul, I’ve only just listened to this episode. The story of the nine brave men mirrors my great uncle’s on 14/7. He was part of 54th Field Coy who went into no man’s land to wire in the gains made at Bazentin. The Germans counter attacked and when the Sappers looked behind them the infantry had scarpered! Many lives were lost.

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  5. Thanks Paul..excellent. The situation the 9 Brave Men found themselves in mirrors that facing my great uncle on 14 July at Bazentin. He was in 54th Field Coy and they were wiring the perimeter of the ground gained when the Germans counter attacked. When they withdrew the infantry had gone! Many lives were lost.

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