The 17th Battalion took over defences in the Maricourt area on 12th January 1916 and remained in the area until June that year. This is a largely unexplored area of the Somme region – as the French took over positions for the Somme advance. If you have less enthusiastic family & friends with you, give them a break and take in the beauty of the Picardy countryside.
See link for images near the hamlet of Vaux and the surrounding positions.
The Manchesters interest is here.
17th Battalion Manchester Regiment on the Somme 