To the background of the rumbling of the bombardment, the generals were making their final plans but small strains began to appear under the great pressure of the impending attack. These were particularly apparent in the relationships between the three generals involved in the main attack, Haig the c-in-c, Rawlinson and Gough. Haig agian wrote to Rawlinson just before the bombardment started, urging him to reduce it from five to three days to give the Germans less warning of the attack, but Rawlinson was still certain he was right and again Haig declined to give a direct order.
To the uncertainties and doubts of his subordinate infantry commanders, Rawlinson showed an attitude of absolute confidence. It is interesting that the two objections put to him by Haig, those of the long artillery preperation and the absence of any rushing tactics, were again raised. The recommended tactics at this stage in the war was that the attacking infantry should approach to within 100 yards of the enemy trenches ready to rush in when the barrage had lifted. At a Fourth Army Corps Commanders conference it was suggested to Rawlinson that the infantry might go in even closer, to within forty yards infact. Rawlinson refused to approve this saying that nothing would exist at the conclusion of the bombadment. So dogmatic was he in his optimism and so thoroughly did it spread to his corps and divisional commanders that objections coming back from the men at the front were met with confident assertions at all levels. To Sir General Henry Rawlinson, more than any other, this battle would belong. It was his plan that had been adopted, it was his will that had been imposed upon all those around him. The Ulsters though, were going to do things their own way.
To the uncertainties and doubts of his subordinate infantry commanders, Rawlinson showed an attitude of absolute confidence. It is interesting that the two objections put to him by Haig, those of the long artillery preperation and the absence of any rushing tactics, were again raised. The recommended tactics at this stage in the war was that the attacking infantry should approach to within 100 yards of the enemy trenches ready to rush in when the barrage had lifted. At a Fourth Army Corps Commanders conference it was suggested to Rawlinson that the infantry might go in even closer, to within forty yards infact. Rawlinson refused to approve this saying that nothing would exist at the conclusion of the bombadment. So dogmatic was he in his optimism and so thoroughly did it spread to his corps and divisional commanders that objections coming back from the men at the front were met with confident assertions at all levels. To Sir General Henry Rawlinson, more than any other, this battle would belong. It was his plan that had been adopted, it was his will that had been imposed upon all those around him. The Ulsters though, were going to do things their own way.
( I think that this would now be a good time to move on to the attack made by the Ulster Division as there is a great deal that can be written about the preperation and build up of the Somme Offensive.I shall now continue with the scene in Thiepval Wood just prior to the assault )
The British Military had taken over Thiepval Wood as surely as they had taken over Aldershot. For the first year of the war a tottering signpost, drunkenly askew, had kept up a pretence that it was ' Propriete Prive Entree Interdite '. But it had long ago given up the ghost. Now battered trench boards nailed to trees bore directions in uncompromising English: ' To Johnson's Post ' To Inniskilling Avenue ' ' To Hamilton Avenue , Cambell Avenue, Elgin Avenue, Belfast City, to Paisley Dump '.
The German artillery fire, which had not been heavy during the night started to intensify. Some men wondered if the Germans knew or suspected that this was not just another day. Some British sectors escaped this fire but, on others a steady barrage settled on trenches, approach roads and gun positions. The shelling caused surprise because the German batteries were thought to have been destroyed during the past week's bombardment. Thiepval Wood was packed with troops moving along communication trenches, getting supplies ready and stacked at various collection points. The soldiers in the front line huddled lower in their trenches, but they were so tightly packed that the German shells could not fail to score hits. Already dead men were being thrown over the edge of the trenches and wounded sent to the rear. These were the lucky ones. Others had to endure the shelling and many wished for the attack to start. Anything was better than waiting helplessly under the German shells.
Billy McFadzean was born at Lurgan in County Armagh of middle class parents. He was a member of the Ulster Volunteers ( 1st Battalion Ballynafeigh and Newtownbreda, East Belfast Regiment ) and later joined the 14th Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles, with whom he trained as a bomber. Such men were sometimes referred to by their comrades as the ' suicide club ' because of the inherent danger and unreliability of the grenades they used. Just before 7.00am on the morning of the Great Push the 14th RIRs bombers were waiting in Whitechurch street astride Elgin Avenue. They were the immediate support to 109 Brigade's assault battalions, who would leave their front line trenches at the edge of the wood. The battalion was due to attack across the Thiepval Road towards the Schwaben Redoubt and Billy McFadzean was listening intently as the bombardment reached its shrieking height. The men nerves were strained and amidst this holocaust of noise and terror the mills bombs were being distributed.
Billy McFadzean was born at Lurgan in County Armagh of middle class parents. He was a member of the Ulster Volunteers ( 1st Battalion Ballynafeigh and Newtownbreda, East Belfast Regiment ) and later joined the 14th Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles, with whom he trained as a bomber. Such men were sometimes referred to by their comrades as the ' suicide club ' because of the inherent danger and unreliability of the grenades they used. Just before 7.00am on the morning of the Great Push the 14th RIRs bombers were waiting in Whitechurch street astride Elgin Avenue. They were the immediate support to 109 Brigade's assault battalions, who would leave their front line trenches at the edge of the wood. The battalion was due to attack across the Thiepval Road towards the Schwaben Redoubt and Billy McFadzean was listening intently as the bombardment reached its shrieking height. The men nerves were strained and amidst this holocaust of noise and terror the mills bombs were being distributed.
Billy McFadzean VC
This was the moment when catastrophe struck. As another case was being opened the box of bombs slipped from Billy's grasp and two fell to the floor, their safety pins inadvertently detached. Without hesitation Billy McFadzean threw himself across the bombs to shelter his friends from the inevitable explosion. Private McFadzean's action undoubtebly saved many lives although three men nearby did suffer wounds. Billy McFadzean's remains were removed by stretcher bearers and it is said that many of his comrades wept openly in their anguish that such bravery should have been rewarded with such a squalid end. His remains were placed behind the lines prior to the assault, to await collection. when time permitted. Unfortunately and like so many other poor souls, Billy's remains were nerver identified, shell fire would have been pounding the area long after the assault began. Most bodies were torn apart never to be identified. Billy McFadzean is listed on the Thiepval Memorial. It is most likely that he is buried in the Connaught Cemetary, not far from where he died, where the cemetary has 642 ' unknown ' graves.
At 7.20am, the British barrage reached a crecendo as the gunners poured shells at the maximum possible rate into the German Lines. They were joined by the closer range trench mortars, which could put down a furious barrage for short periods. the German front-line trenches, their redoubts and fortified villages were battered or so it was believed by an awesome intensity of fire which made even the most doubtful men more confident.
Exactly at 7.30 am an uncanny silence fell over the battlefield. The British barrage suddenly ceased as it lifted from the German front line and gun-layers adjusted their sights for the next target. By a strange coincidence the German guns too were silent. It was eerie; the sun was shining out of a cloudless sky. The men were already shocked that they would be attacking so late in the morning, most having only been given this news literally minutes before the assualt began. Birds hovered and swooped over the trenches, singing clearly. To the men it seemed a weird anti-climax. " Suddenly for a few seconds, all seemed silent, the firing had quietened down. I walked up and down the footboards saying to the men " It's a walk over " I had almost a feeling of disappointment. It was short lived " After a few seconds the quiet was shattered as the British barrage fell upon the next line of enemy defences. Now a new danger menaced the British. The German artillery had until now, bben firing on the British gun positions, the rear and the trenches. But once it was clear that the British were attacking, the German batteries opened their defensive barrage on the centre of No-Man's-Land and the British front line trench system. The scale and accuracy of the German shell fire was a rude shock to the British, who believed that the seven day bombardment had destroyed most of the German batteries. Along the centre of N0-Man's-Land a long line of bursting shells could be seen. The accuracy was astonishing; as each battery fired, the fountains of earth and black smoke appeared as straight and as evenly spaced as a row of trees.
At 7.30 am along the whole of the British front line, officers, many of whom the year before were still at school, blew their whistles and thousands of British soldiers left their trenches in parade ground fashion and advanced towards the enemy in the manner which Rawlinson had ordered. The battle was now in the hands of these men, the Generals could do nothing. For the first half hour it would not even be a battalion commander's battle. The battle would be decided by Captains and Second-Lieutenants, Sergeants, lance corporals and privates. Each man was left with his own thoughts, as he grabbed his rifle tight and walked a step closer towards his own destiny and fate.
At 7.20am, the British barrage reached a crecendo as the gunners poured shells at the maximum possible rate into the German Lines. They were joined by the closer range trench mortars, which could put down a furious barrage for short periods. the German front-line trenches, their redoubts and fortified villages were battered or so it was believed by an awesome intensity of fire which made even the most doubtful men more confident.
Exactly at 7.30 am an uncanny silence fell over the battlefield. The British barrage suddenly ceased as it lifted from the German front line and gun-layers adjusted their sights for the next target. By a strange coincidence the German guns too were silent. It was eerie; the sun was shining out of a cloudless sky. The men were already shocked that they would be attacking so late in the morning, most having only been given this news literally minutes before the assualt began. Birds hovered and swooped over the trenches, singing clearly. To the men it seemed a weird anti-climax. " Suddenly for a few seconds, all seemed silent, the firing had quietened down. I walked up and down the footboards saying to the men " It's a walk over " I had almost a feeling of disappointment. It was short lived " After a few seconds the quiet was shattered as the British barrage fell upon the next line of enemy defences. Now a new danger menaced the British. The German artillery had until now, bben firing on the British gun positions, the rear and the trenches. But once it was clear that the British were attacking, the German batteries opened their defensive barrage on the centre of No-Man's-Land and the British front line trench system. The scale and accuracy of the German shell fire was a rude shock to the British, who believed that the seven day bombardment had destroyed most of the German batteries. Along the centre of N0-Man's-Land a long line of bursting shells could be seen. The accuracy was astonishing; as each battery fired, the fountains of earth and black smoke appeared as straight and as evenly spaced as a row of trees.
At 7.30 am along the whole of the British front line, officers, many of whom the year before were still at school, blew their whistles and thousands of British soldiers left their trenches in parade ground fashion and advanced towards the enemy in the manner which Rawlinson had ordered. The battle was now in the hands of these men, the Generals could do nothing. For the first half hour it would not even be a battalion commander's battle. The battle would be decided by Captains and Second-Lieutenants, Sergeants, lance corporals and privates. Each man was left with his own thoughts, as he grabbed his rifle tight and walked a step closer towards his own destiny and fate.
