Editing Battle of the Somme (section)

=== Third phase: September–November 1916 ===
==== Battle of Flers–Courcelette, 15–22 September ====
{{Main|Battle of Flers–Courcelette}}

The Battle of Flers–Courcelette was the third and final general offensive mounted by the British Army, which attacked an intermediate line and the German third line to take Morval, Lesboeufs and Gueudecourt, which was combined with a French attack on Frégicourt and Rancourt to encircle Combles and a supporting attack on the south bank of the Somme. The strategic objective of a breakthrough was not achieved but the tactical gains were considerable, the front line being advanced by {{convert|2500|–|3500|yd|m}} and many casualties were inflicted on the German defenders. The battle was the debut of the [[Canadian Corps]], the [[New Zealand Division]] and [[tank]]s of the Heavy Branch of the [[Machine Gun Corps]] on the Somme.{{sfn|Sheffield|2003|pp = 112–124}}

==== Battle of Morval, 25–28 September ====
{{Main|Battle of Morval}}

[[File:The Battle of the Somme, July-november 1916 Q1308 (cropped).jpg|thumb|British troops moving up to the attack during the Battle of Morval, 25 September 1916.]]

The Battle of Morval was an attack by the Fourth Army on [[Morval, Pas-de-Calais|Morval]], [[Gueudecourt]] and [[Lesboeufs]] held by the German [[1st Army (German Empire)|1st Army]], which had been the final objectives of the [[Battle of Flers–Courcelette]] (15–22 September). The attack was postponed to combine with attacks by the French Sixth Army on [[Combles]], south of Morval and because of rain. The combined attack was also intended to deprive the German defenders further west, near Thiepval of reinforcements, before an attack by the Reserve Army, due on 26 September. Combles, Morval, Lesboeufs and Gueudecourt were captured and a small number of tanks joined in the battle later in the afternoon. Many casualties were inflicted on the Germans but the French made slower progress. The Fourth Army advance on 25 September was its deepest since 14 July and left the Germans in severe difficulties, particularly in a Salients, re-entrants and pockets salient near Combles. The Reserve Army attack began on 26 September in the [[Battle of Thiepval Ridge]].{{sfn|Philpott|2009|p = 383}}

==== Battle of Thiepval Ridge, 26–28 September ====
{{Main|Battle of Thiepval Ridge}}

[[File:British Mark I male tank Somme 25 September 1916.jpg|thumb|British Mark I male tank near Thiepval, 25 September 1916.]]

The Battle of Thiepval Ridge was the first large offensive mounted by the [[British Reserve Army|Reserve Army]] of [[Lieutenant General]] [[Hubert Gough]] and was intended to benefit from the [[British Fourth Army|Fourth Army]] attack at [[Battle of Morval|Morval]] by starting {{nowrap|24 hours}} afterwards. Thiepval Ridge was well fortified and the German defenders fought with great determination, while the British co-ordination of infantry and artillery declined after the first day, due to confused fighting in the maze of trenches, dug-outs and shell-craters. The final British objectives were not reached until the [[Battle of the Ancre Heights]] (1 October – 11 November). Organisational difficulties and deteriorating weather frustrated Joffre's intention to proceed by vigorous co-ordinated attacks by the Anglo-French armies, which became disjointed and declined in effectiveness during late September, at the same time as a revival occurred in the German defence. The British experimented with new techniques in gas warfare, machine-gun bombardment and tank–infantry co-operation, as the Germans struggled to withstand the preponderance of men and material fielded by the Anglo-French, despite reorganisation and substantial reinforcements of troops, artillery and aircraft from Verdun. September became the worst month for casualties for the Germans.{{sfn|Sheffield|2003|pp = 130–131}}

==== Battle of Le Transloy, 1 October – 11 November ====
{{Main|Battle of Le Transloy}}

The Battle of Le Transloy began in good weather and Le Sars was captured on 7 October. Pauses were made from {{nowrap|8–11 October}} due to rain and {{nowrap|13–18 October}} to allow time for a methodical bombardment, when it became clear that the German defence had recovered from earlier defeats. Haig consulted with the army commanders and on {{nowrap|17 October}} reduced the scope of operations by cancelling the Third Army plans and reducing the Reserve Army and Fourth Army attacks to limited operations, in co-operation with the French Sixth Army.{{sfn|Miles|1992|pp = 458–459}} Another pause followed before operations resumed on 23 October on the northern flank of the Fourth Army, with a delay during more bad weather on the right flank of the Fourth Army and on the French Sixth Army front, until 5 November. Next day, the Fourth Army ceased offensive operations, except for small attacks intended to improve positions and divert German attention from attacks being made by the Reserve/Fifth Army. Larger operations resumed in January 1917.{{sfn|Miles|1992|p = 474}}

==== Battle of the Ancre Heights, 1 October – 11 November ====
{{Main|Battle of the Ancre Heights}}

The Battle of the Ancre Heights was fought after Haig made plans for the Third Army to take the area east of Gommecourt, the Reserve Army to attack north from Thiepval Ridge and east from Beaumont Hamel–Hébuterne and for the Fourth Army to reach the Péronne–Bapaume road around Le Transloy and Beaulencourt–Thilloy–Loupart Wood, north of the Albert–Bapaume road. The Reserve Army attacked to complete the capture of Regina Trench/Stuff Trench, north of Courcelette to the west end of Bazentin Ridge around {{lang|de|Schwaben}} and Stuff Redoubts, during which bad weather caused great hardship and delay. The Marine Brigade from Flanders and fresh German divisions brought from quiet fronts counter-attacked frequently and the British objectives were not secured until 11 November.{{sfn|Miles|1992|pp = 447–456 & 460–466}}

==== Battle of the Ancre, 13–18 November ====
{{Main|Battle of the Ancre}}

[[File:Mametz Western Front (Frank Crozier).jpg|thumb|Mametz, Western Front, a winter scene, painting by [[Frank R. Crozier|Frank Crozier]]]]

The Battle of the Ancre was the last big British operation of the year. The Fifth (formerly Reserve) Army attacked into the Ancre valley to exploit German exhaustion after the Battle of the Ancre Heights and gain ground ready for a resumption of the offensive in 1917. Political calculation, concern for Allied morale and Joffre's pressure for a continuation of attacks in France, to prevent German troop transfers to Russia and Italy also influenced Haig.{{sfn|Miles|1992|pp = 476–477}} The battle began with another [[Mining (military)|mine]] being detonated beneath [[Hawthorn Ridge Redoubt]]. The attack on [[Serre (Somme)|Serre]] failed, although a brigade of the 31st Division, which had attacked in the disaster of 1 July, took its objectives before being withdrawn later. South of Serre, Beaumont Hamel and [[Beaucourt-sur-l'Ancre]] were captured. South of the Ancre, St. Pierre Division was captured, the outskirts of Grandcourt reached and the Canadian 4th Division captured [[Regina Trench]] north of Courcelette, then took Desire Support Trench on 18 November. Until January 1917 a lull set in, as both sides concentrated on enduring the weather.{{sfn|McCarthy|1995|pp = 148–162}}