Delville Wood

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Remains of a German trench in Delville Wood, September 1916.

Delville Wood (in French, Bois d'Elville) is a small forest adjacent to the village of Longueval in the Somme département of northern France. The wood was the scene of an intense battle between British Empire and German forces during the 1916 Battle of the Somme.

The best known unit associated with the fighting in Delville Wood is the South African Brigade, part of the 9th (Scottish) Division — of the 3,000 men from the brigade who entered the wood, only 768 emerged unscathed. No prisoners were taken. The ferocity of the fighting is demonstrated by the fact that of the South African casualties, the dead outnumbered the wounded by 4 to 1 (in typical trench warfare, the ratio of dead to wounded was 1 to 3). In the words of British military historian Peter Liddle:

"[T]he South African Brigade had fought steadfastly under such appalling and prolonged circumstances that in the grim litany of the Somme's savagery of sustained attack and counter-attack, Delville Wood stands unenviably pre-eminent."

The fighting for Delville Wood commenced on 14 July, 1916 during the Battle of Bazentin Ridge when the 9th Division captured Longueval and gained a foothold in the neighbouring wood. The wood lay on the right flank of the British line and, along with nearby Waterlot Farm, protected the villages of Guillemont and Ginchy. As was the case at nearby High Wood, the Germans resisted strongly in Delville Wood and every gain made by the British was subjected to repeated counter-attack. Consequently the wood changed hands a number of times before it was finally secured by the British on 3 September during the Battle of Guillemont, though the Germans retained a hold on the eastern edge that wasn't relinquished until the British advance during the Battle of Flers-Courcelette on 15 September.

The 9th Division fought in Delville Wood until 20 July when it was relieved by the 3rd Division and a brigade of the 18th (Eastern) Division. On 27 July it was the turn of two brigades, one from the 2nd Division and the 99th Brigade from the 5th Division, supported by an artillery bombardment from 369 guns. The British infantry captured the wood but were immediately subjected to a heavy German bombardment and counter-attacks.

Four Victoria Crosses were awarded for fighting in Delville Wood. The only South African award went to Private William Frederick Faulds on 18 July. Two men of the 10th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers (76th Brigade, 3rd Division) won VCs on 20 July; Corporal Joseph John Davies and Private Albert Hill. Sergeant Albert Gill, 1st Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps (99th Brigade, 5th Division), won his VC on 27 July.

Delville Wood today

Many thousands now visit Delville Wood annually to see the South African National Memorial, the museum and visitors centre, which commemorate the sacrifice of 25,000 South Africans in the conflicts of the 20th century.

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