WW1 Podcast with Paul Reed
As the Battle of the Somme entered its final, bitter weeks, fighting continued across the ground between Thiepval, Grandcourt and Courcelette. In this episode of The Old Front Line, we explore the October and November 1916 battles as autumn turned to winter and the Somme battlefield became a landscape of mud, rain and continuous shell craters.
We follow the fighting, examining the attacks around Regina Trench, Stuff Trench, Grandcourt and Courcelette, and the challenges faced by British and Commonwealth troops as they attempted to push forward.
Then we walk the battlefield, visiting Stump Road Cemetery, Grandcourt Road Cemetery and Regina Trench Cemetery. These cemeteries provide a direct connection to the men who fought and died here, revealing the human cost of the Somme’s final phase.
From Thiepval to Grandcourt and Courcelette, this is the story of the Somme after 1 July: the forgotten battles of October and November 1916 and the men who fought through them.
Main Image: Grandcourt Road Cemetery (Stephen Kerr).
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I really enjoyed today’s podcast, going to add this to my next trip for sure. Great picture from Stephen, he creates some beautiful work 😊. Thanks John
Thank you, John! Yes, I really appreciated Stephen’s help with this one.
Good to see some of these late actions of the Battle of the Somme get some focus. I was fascinated to hear your description of the successful actions of 21 October as my Great Uncle was with 2nd South Lancs who, as I understand it, attacked on the immediate right flank of 11th Royal Sussex that day. I note from your excellent data charts that 18 of his comrades lie in Grandcourt Rd Cemetery.
Thanks – and thanks for sharing that connection. Glad the podcast was of interest!
Excellent podcast. Particularly like the analysis tables for each of the 3 cemeteries. It would be great to be able access similar for each cwgc cemetery
Thanks, David. That’s a big task but I certainly aim to do some more.