After Handing over to the Australians, the Brigade spent the last days of April and the begining of May practising the assault on the training area near Moulle. On the 4th of May, the battalions entrained at St Omer and Wizernes for Amiens, detraining at Amiens and marching to St Gratien, where they arrived at 11.00 pm and billeted for the night. This was a long hot march and several men fell out on the way. One soldier recalled the journey.
" We travelled a whole day in this train, shunting about with all these ammunition trains coming up all the time. Eventually we ended up at a place called Amiens. We had to march about 20 miles to get to the front; we were all tired and when we fell out i remember this officer calling over to us " If you carry on like this you'll miss the Big Push!" some hope."
Captain George Swinburn also recorded the march from the station " We marched through a large town with the pipers at the head of the Battalion, under the command of the Major ( Prior ) because the Colonel is away sick. It is the best reception we just have ever had, the streets and avenues were lined with hundreds of people on both sides. The residents seemed to be greatly impressed by the fitness of the men. We were all sunburnt and look absolutely in the pink. There were shouts of " Vive La France " and " Vive Angleterre and the scene was thrilling. I felt quite proud riding at the head of my company. It took us a good hour to march through the town and when we halted in one of the suburbs the people were most kind to the men. "
The journey of the 25th Battalion was noted by Lance Corporal Ted Colpitts, who wrote " 5 mile walk, 10 hours ride in train. Arrive Amiens - fine city 12 mile walk, an awful march, lots fall out. Arrive tired and footsore, feeling the effect of march now. " After resting the night in St Gratien, the battalions paraded in line of march and continued on the way to the Somme front. The next stopping place being Franvillers.
The journey of the 25th Battalion was noted by Lance Corporal Ted Colpitts, who wrote " 5 mile walk, 10 hours ride in train. Arrive Amiens - fine city 12 mile walk, an awful march, lots fall out. Arrive tired and footsore, feeling the effect of march now. " After resting the night in St Gratien, the battalions paraded in line of march and continued on the way to the Somme front. The next stopping place being Franvillers.
the front line and trench raids
The 27th Battalion went into the line firston the 10th May when there was a sporadic shelling and casualties were desribed as light. The next day the 26th Battalion took over the adjoining section of the front line, and A Company of the 25th Battalion was in support in the soon famous ' Tara ' and ' Unsa ' Redoubts astride the Albert-Bapaume road with the rest of the Battalion in Albert, and the 24th Battalion in Billets at Dernancourt. On the 15th the 25th Battalion took over from the 26th Battalion in the front line and suffered shelling throughout this tour, with the enemy giving Keats Redoubt, Tunnel Street and Athol Street particular attention.
LA BOISELLE
The Tyneside Irish Brigade were positioned at La Boiselle, astride the main road from Albert to Bapaume. This is where the Tyneside Brigade would go over on the 1st July
On the night of the 21st of May a German raiding party tried to enter the British trenches on the right held by D Company of the 25th Battalion. They were forced back after a desperate bombing fight around a post held by six men commanded by Lance Corporal Tom Hilton of Hebburn; after all of his men were either dead or wounded, Lance Corporal Hilton kept throwing bombs at the raiders until they were compelled to retire. For this brave action he was awarded the Military Medal.
Tyneside Irish Brigade positions in front of La Boisselle showing the two trench raids that were carried out by the 24th and 26th Battalions in June 1916
Ovillers
La Boisselle
La Boisselle
25th Battalion took over
Tara Fort and Unsa Fort
On 11th and then took
Over the front line
From 26th Battalion
On the 16th May.
27th Battalion took
up positions in the
front line 10-15th May
24th Battalion
trench raid
5th & 6th June 1916
26th Battalion to the
right of La Boisselle
11-16th May
26th Battalion
trench raid
25th & 26th June
German Front Line
* Approx assembly point in Mercer Street
Dugout for raid by the 24th Battalion.
British Front Line
