Editing Battle of the Somme (section)

==== 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}}