Fighting for Mouquet Farm
The Fighting for Mouquet Farm, also known as the Battle of Mouquet Farm was part of the Battle of the Somme and began during the Battle of Pozières. The fighting began on 23 July with attacks by the British Reserve Army. The farm was captured by the 3rd Canadian Division of the Canadian Corps on 16 September. The farm was lost to a German counter-attack, before being re-captured on 26 September during an attack by the 11th (Northern) Division during the Battle of Thiepval Ridge (26–28 September). Number 16 Section of the 6th Battalion East Yorkshire (Pioneers) smoked out the last German defenders.
Mouquet farm, Pozières, by Fred Leist
Mouquet Farm and its defences, June 1916
Mouquet Farm and its defences, September 1916
The Battle of Pozières took place in northern France around the village of Pozières, during the Battle of the Somme. The costly fighting ended with the British in possession of the plateau north and east of the village, in a position to menace the German bastion of Thiepval from the rear. The Australian official historian Charles Bean wrote that Pozières ridge "is more densely sown with Australian sacrifice than any other place on earth".
The "Gibraltar" bunker, Pozières, in late August. A fatigue party laden with sandbags heads for the fighting at Mouquet Farm.
Road to Pozières: In the distance the village of Contalmaison is under German shellfire.
The view from Centre Way trench towards Mouquet Farm, August.
The hill of the windmill.