Remains of a German trench in Delville Wood, September 1916.

The South African Memorial in Delville Wood, December 2005

Delville Wood (in French, Bois d'Elville) is a small forest adjacent to the village of Longueval in the Somme département of northern France at 50°1′39″N, 2°48′45″ECoordinates: 50°1′39″N, 2°48′45″E. The wood was the scene of an intense battle between British Empire and German forces during the 1916 Battle of the Somme. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1000x806, 155 KB) An abandoned German trench in Delville Wood near Longueval, Somme, France. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1000x806, 155 KB) An abandoned German trench in Delville Wood near Longueval, Somme, France. ... Trench warfare is a form of war in which both opposing armies have static lines of defence. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1280x960, 454 KB) Summary South African Memorial, Delville Wood, France, Harm Frielink December 2005 Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1280x960, 454 KB) Summary South African Memorial, Delville Wood, France, Harm Frielink December 2005 Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation... This article is about a community of trees. ... Longueval is a French commune in the Somme departement and in the Picardie region. ... Somme is a French département, named after the Somme River, located in the north of France. ... The départements (or departments) are administrative units of France and many former French colonies, roughly analogous to English counties. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ... The British Empire in 1897, marked in pink, the traditional colour for Imperial British dominions on maps. ... 1916 (MCMXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... Combatants British Empire Australia Canada New Zealand Newfoundland South Africa United Kingdom France German Empire Commanders Douglas Haig Joseph Joffre Max von Gallwitz Fritz von Below Strength 13 British & 11 French divisions (initial) 51 British and 48 French divisions (final) 10. ...

The best known unit associated with the fighting in Delville Wood is the South African Brigade, part of the 9th (Scottish) Division — of the 3,000 men from the brigade who entered the wood, only 768 emerged unscathed. No prisoners were taken. The ferocity of the fighting is demonstrated by the fact that of the South African casualties ^[1], the dead outnumbered the wounded by 4 to 1 (in typical trench warfare, the ratio of dead to wounded was 1 to 3). In the words of British military historian Peter Liddle: The 9th (Scottish) Division, was one of the Kitcheners Army divisions raised from volunteers by Lord Kitchener to serve on the Western Front during the First World War. ... In military science a brigade is a military unit that is part of a division and includes regiments (where that level exists), or (in modern armies) is composed of several battalions (typically two to four) and directly attached supporting units. ... Trench warfare is a form of war in which both opposing armies have static lines of defence. ... Military history is the recording (in writing or otherwise) of the events in the history of humanity that fall within the category of conflict. This may range from a dispute between two tribes that come to blow over a plot of land, to a world war. ...

The fighting for Delville Wood commenced on 14 July 1916 during the Battle of Bazentin Ridge when the 9th Division captured Longueval and gained a foothold in the neighbouring wood. The wood lay on the right flank of the British line and, along with nearby Waterlot Farm, protected the villages of Guillemont and Ginchy. As was the case at nearby High Wood, the Germans resisted strongly in Delville Wood and every gain made by the British was subjected to repeated counter-attack. Consequently the wood changed hands a number of times before it was finally secured by the British on 3 September during the Battle of Guillemont, though the Germans retained a hold on the eastern edge that wasn't relinquished until the British advance during the Battle of Flers-Courcelette on 15 September. is the 195th day of the year (196th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1916 (MCMXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... Combatants United Kingdom South Africa German Empire Commanders Henry Rawlinson Fritz von Below Strength 5 divisions 2 divisions Casualties 9,000 dead, wounded, or missing 1,400 captured The Battle of Bazentin Ridge, launched by the British Fourth Army at dawn on 14 July 1916, marked the start of the... Guillemont is a small village roughly 8 miles east of Albert in the Somme district of France. ... High Wood is a small forest near Bazentin le Petit in the Somme département of northern France which was the scene of intense fighting for two months from 14 July to 15 September 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. ... is the 246th day of the year (247th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Battle of Guillemont was a British assault on the German-held village of Guillemont during the 1916 Battle of the Somme. ... The Battle of Flers-Courcelette, which began on 15 September 1916 and lasted for one week, was the third and last of the large-scale offensives mounted by the British Army during the Battle of the Somme. ... is the 258th day of the year (259th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

The 9th Division fought in Delville Wood until 20 July when it was relieved by the 3rd Division and a brigade of the 18th (Eastern) Division. On 27 July it was the turn of two brigades, one from the 2nd Division and the 99th Brigade from the 5th Division, supported by an artillery bombardment from 369 guns. The British infantry captured the wood but were immediately subjected to a heavy German bombardment and counter-attacks. is the 201st day of the year (202nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The British 3rd Division, known as the Iron Division, was originally formed in 1809 by Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington for service in the Peninsula War. ... The British 18th (Eastern) Division was a New Army division formed in September 1914 as part of the K2 Army Group. ... is the 208th day of the year (209th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The British 2nd Division was originally formed in 1809 by Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington for service in the Peninsula War. ... Unit history Formation 13th Brigade  2nd Battalion, the Kings Own Scottish Borderers 1st Battalion, The Royal West Kent Regiment 2nd Battalion, the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (until December 1915) 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Wellingtons (West Riding Regiment) (until January 1916) 1/9th (City of London...

Four Victoria Crosses were awarded for fighting in Delville Wood. The only South African award went to Private William Frederick Faulds on 18 July. Two men of the 10th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers (76th Brigade, 3rd Division) won VCs on 20 July; Corporal Joseph John Davies and Private Albert Hill. Sergeant Albert Gill, 1st Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps (99th Brigade, 5th Division), won his VC on 27 July. The Victoria Cross (VC) is a military decoration awarded for valour in the face of the enemy to members of armed forces of some Commonwealth countries and previous British Empire territories. ... A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank (equivalent to Nato Rank Grades OR-1 to OR-3 depending on the force served in). ... William Frederick Faulds (VC, MC) was a South African recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. ... is the 199th day of the year (200th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Official name The Royal Welch Fusiliers Colonel-in-Chief HM Queen Elizabeth II Colonel Major-General Brian Peter Plummer CBE Nicknames Motto Nec Aspera Terrent Anniversaries St. ... The British 3rd Division, known as the Iron Division, was originally formed in 1809 by Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington for service in the Peninsula War. ... is the 201st day of the year (202nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the military rank. ... Joseph John Davies VC (28 April 1889- 23 February 1976) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. ... Albert Hill, VC (1895–1971) was a British soldier who won the Victoria Cross, the highest British military decoration. ... For other uses, see Sergeant (disambiguation). ... Albert Gill (8 September 1879 - 27 July 1916) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. ... The Kings Royal Rifle Corps was a British Army formation. ... is the 208th day of the year (209th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Delville Wood today

Many thousands now visit Delville Wood annually to see the South African National Memorial, the museum and visitors centre, which commemorate the sacrifice of 25,000 South Africans in the conflicts of the 20th century. Nearby is also the Delville wood cemetery, which holds the remains of 152 fallen South African soldiers. Delville Wood Cemetery is a Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery located near Longueval, France. ...

See also

• Military history of South Africa

The military history of South Africa chronicles a vast time period and complex events from the dawn of history until the present time. ...

References

1. ^ The South Africans at Delville Wood. The South African Military History Society (Military History Journal - Vol 7 No 2) (November 21, 2006).