Triangle Point Montauban 2006

View from the position of Triangle Point facing north down Caterpillar Valley and the road to Bazentin Le Grand. The children are approaching from the same direction as the German counter attack at 3am on 2nd July 1916.

Triangle Point proved to be the furthest point of advance for the British 4th Army on 1st July 1916.  The German counter-attack on the 2nd resulted in the advanced detachment of 17th Battalion Manchester Regiment withdrawing, after running out of their supply of bombs.  The German force was subsequently pushed back.  For a review of the defenders see https://17thmanchesters.wordpress.com/the-big-push/

For a review of the German troops see https://17thmanchesters.wordpress.com/2013/05/19/remembering-michael-maier-kia-17th-of-july-1916-longueval-battle-of-the-somme/

THE STEEL HELMET

Private Allan Arthur Bell, 17th Battalion Manchester Regiment

In 1974 Arthur Bell wrote notes of his experience in the 17^th Battalion, Manchester Regiment.  Arthur was also subsequently interviewed by Martin Middlebrook on BBC Radio 4 where he recounted further experiences in the First World War  It’s fitting to follow Arthur’s original introduction of his damaged helmet:-

“It had a leather frame inside, and was issued to all of us some weeks before the big advance on 1^st July, 1916.  A few days after the initial advance I took my helmet to the Company QMS for renewal as it had a hole in it made by a bullet, which had caused it to roll up like the petal of a flower.  “Yer wanna be more careful” said newly promoted ex-Sergt. McM [McMenemy].  Anyhow, he gave me a new hat.

How came I to get a hole in the hat.”