The overall objectives
of the Ulster Division were dominated by and dependant on an attempt to
take the Schwaben Redoubt, a parallelogram of trenches, dugouts and fortified
machine-gun posts, lying south of the Ancre on the highest ground overlooking
the river. Protected by four lines of German trenches, the Redoubt was
known to some of the soldiers who looked across at it as the ‘Devils
dwelling’, to others as ‘Hells Corner’.
Between the Ulster trenches and the stronghold, the ground rose 250 feet
in 1,000 yards. An observant artillery officer had counted sixteen rows
of wire guarding the front-line trench on one part of the Schwaben Redoubt
and an average of five rows guarding the second line. The dugouts could
be upto thirty feet deep in the chalky earth and afforded tremendous protection.
Having captured the Redoubt, the 36th had to press on and reach the fifth
and final line of German trenches, beyond which lay open country. They
must dominate the land between Beaucourt, to the north of their sector,
and Thiepval village to the south (the capture of Thiepval itself was
the task of the 32nd Division). North of the Ancre the 36th had the objective
of crossing a ravine to the north of Hamel village and moving through
the the German held Beaucourt trenches to take Beaucourt railway station.
This would be particular goal of the Armagh Volunteers and the Mid-Antrim
Volunteers. They also had to capture a mill situated on the riverbank;
and a platoon from the Mid-Antrim Battalion was to patrol the marshy ground
around the river.
South of the
Ancre, the Down and South Antrim Volunteers were to attack the Northern
slopes of the Schwaben Redoubt, with the North Belfast Volunteers in support.
Special detachments of men with motor and machine-gun reinforcements were
to deputised to clear the trenches north towards the river valley and
the road between St. Pierre-Divion and Grandcourt. The assault on the
southern flank of the Schwaben Redoubt fell to the four Battalions of
the 109th Brigade. The Derry and Tyrone Battalions would go over the top
in the first wave, and would advance to the fourth line of the German
trenches, which they would hold. Behind them would come the Young Citizens
and the Donegal and Fermanagh Battalions. The latter was to have special
responsibility for consolidating the vital trench junction known as the
‘crucifix’ on the southern slopes of the
Schwaben Redoubt, and both the YCVs and the Donegal and Fermanagh Volunteers
had to consolidate the first three lines of trenches against which the
Derry and Tyrone men had led the attack. These objectives having been
accomplished, the troops were to make their assault on the fifth line
of German trenches. The three remaining Belfast Battalions were to be
in charge of this attack, marching through land gained by the other Battalions
and on to their goal. The East Belfast Volunteers would dominate the northern
part of the fifth line, the West Belfast men would occupy the central
portion and the South Belfast Battalion would extend southwards.............
Objectives
continued on next page>>
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