The picture above shows the area of 168th Brigade's attack on 1st July 1916.

Legend: 1 = Gommecourt Military Cemetery No. 2
2 = Hebuterne Church Tower
3 = Nameless Farm, lying on the far side of the sunken Gommecourt to Puisieux Road

This photograph is taken from the approximate position of Point 147 in the German Garde Stellung between Gommecourt and Rossignol Wood. It shows the excellent observation the Germans had over the whole of the 56th Division's front lines. Machine guns located along the Garde Stellung were able to sweep the entire area and counter-attacks and artillery fire were directed from this point.

The London Scottish attacked right to left over the rising ground on the left of the German position to take the Farmer-Farmyard stronghold. The area of trees on the far left conceals a dell which lies on the approximate position of Fable trench at the rear of the stronghold. Anna communication trench ran from this point back to Rossignol Wood. It was here that Maj Claud Low's C Company swept over their objective (Fable trench) as it was unrecognisable after the heavy bombardment. A fighting withdrawal up the slope organised by Lt Lamb allowed the men to retire into the remains of Fable trench.

The communication trenches Anna, Elbe and Epte were used for German bombing counter-attacks and the London Scottish were also attacked from the far left of the picture.

Heavy artillery fire swept the area of the stronghold, No Man's Land and the British lines held by the Kensingtons at this point and reinforcement of the London Scottish proved all but impossible. By mid-afternoon, the remains of the London Scottish evacuated their positions under the leadership of Capt Sparks, A Company having suffered nearly 80% casualties.

169th Brigade
London Rifle Brigade
Queen Victoria's Rifles
Rangers