Key Information
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1916 Jun 24 - 1916 Jul 13 (Creation)
Level of description
Item
Extent
2 files, 2 copies
Scope and content
War diary of 4 Army, British Armies in France, [compiled by Montgomery as Chief of General Staff, 4 Army] for the period 24 Jun-13 Jul 1916, relating to the Battle of the Somme, summarising operations of 4 Army for allied offensive, including descriptions of patrols, raids and artillery bombardment of German lines 24-30 Jun 1916, with notes on the parallel use of gas on German trenches, wire-cutting of German defences, and information on German positions obtained from captured German prisoners; descriptions of operations of 4 Army during Battle of the Somme, including detailed summary of operations, 1 Jul 1916 of 30 Div, 13 Corps, 7 Div, 15 Corps, 21 Div 15 Corps 4 Div 8 Corps, with comments on casualties, morale and reasons for failure of offensive, and statistics of ammunition expenditure; descriptions of operations of 4 Army, 2-13 Jul 1916, detailing the continuation of the Allied offensive; operational orders written by Montgomery, 2-13 Jul 1916; notes on visit of Lt Gen Sir Henry Seymour Rawlinson to 4 Army Headquarters, 2 Jul 1916, describing the success of the first day of the offensive. 2 files. 2 copies.