Ovillers-la-Boisselle in Somme, Upper France, France — Western Europe

15th and 16th Royal Scots

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, June 10, 2024

1. 15th and 16th Royal Scots Marker

Inscription.

15th and 16th Royal Scots , The Edinburgh City Battalions , In the early hours of 1st July, the 15 Royal Scots followed by their comrades from 16th Royal Scots, moved silently from their positions on the right flank, forward into no-man's-land, in preparation for the coming assault., Cpl. H. Beaumont, M.M., 1st Edinburgh City Battalion later recounted his memories of 0728hrs:, 'We were out in no-man's-land, waiting. The whole world seemed to be moving; the earth moved sideways and back three times before the final explosion of the mine. I saw the debris rise hundreds of feet into the air and then it began to fall back with a noise rising above the bombardment. I thought "This is it", and buried my head underneath my tin hat and arms, waiting for the first clout. However it missed me but caught some of the men on my left!’, The two Edinburgh City Battalions were to move up Sausage Valley towards the enemy strongholds. But try as they might, withering machine-gun and artillery fire forced them to veer further east up the exposed slope. As the terrible day progressed and the ferocious fighting continued, survivors from the assorted battalions found themselves in the enemy trenches. Surrounded on three sides, they made another assault back towards an objective Scot's Redoubt, this time taking it. Later in the day, men moved forward again and gathered overlooking Contalmaison. Exhausted and so diminished in number they had, at such terrible cost, succeeded in taking one of their main objectives., The Lochnagar Crater is privately owned by Richard Dunning MBE and is dedicated to Remembrance, Respect and Reconciliation. , www.lochnagarcrater.org, 'The Lochnagar Promise For Peace' , “In Remembrance of all those who have suffered in conflict, and those who are suffering still may we live our lives today with more Compassion and Kindness. Understanding and Forgiveness Reconciliation and Unity. Let us now, in their honour, wage Peace.”, The Trustees are grateful for the generous bequest which enabled the refurbishment of these Visitor Information Panels. , www.lochnagarcrater.org ,

15th and 16th Royal Scots
The Edinburgh City Battalions
In the early hours of 1st July, the 15 Royal Scots followed by their comrades from 16th Royal Scots, moved silently from their positions on the right flank, forward into no-man's-land, in preparation for the coming assault.

Cpl. H. Beaumont, M.M., 1st Edinburgh City Battalion later recounted his memories of 0728hrs:

'We were out in no-man's-land, waiting. The whole world seemed to be moving; the earth moved sideways and back three times before the final explosion of the mine. I saw the debris rise hundreds of feet into the air and then it began to fall back with a noise rising above the bombardment. I thought "This is it", and buried my head underneath my tin hat and arms, waiting for the first clout. However it missed me but caught some of the men on my left!’

The two Edinburgh City Battalions were to move up Sausage Valley towards the enemy strongholds. But try as they might, withering machine-gun and artillery fire forced them to veer further east up the exposed slope. As the terrible day progressed and the ferocious fighting

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continued, survivors from the assorted battalions found themselves in the enemy trenches. Surrounded on three sides, they made another assault back towards an objective Scot's Redoubt, this time taking it. Later in the day, men moved forward again and gathered overlooking Contalmaison. Exhausted and so diminished in number they had, at such terrible cost, succeeded in taking one of their main objectives.

The Lochnagar Crater is privately owned by Richard Dunning MBE and is dedicated to Remembrance, Respect and Reconciliation.
www.lochnagarcrater.org

'The Lochnagar Promise For Peace'
“In Remembrance of all those who have suffered in conflict, and those who are suffering still may we live our lives today with more Compassion and Kindness. Understanding and Forgiveness Reconciliation and Unity. Let us now, in their honour, wage Peace.”

The Trustees are grateful for the generous bequest which enabled the refurbishment of these Visitor Information Panels.
www.lochnagarcrater.org

Français
Les 15ème et 16ème Royal Scots
Les bataillons de la Ville d'Edimbourg
Aux premières heures du 1 juillet, le 15 Royal Scots, mivi de ves camarades du 16eme Royal Scots, quitte silencimment sa position su le flanc droit pour avancer dans le no man's land en préparation de l'assaut à venir.

Le Caporal H.

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, June 10, 2024

2. 15th and 16th Royal Scots Marker

Beaumont, M.M., du 1 Bataillon d'Edinburgh City, raconte ses souvenirs de 07h28:

Nous étions dans le no man's land, en attente. La Terme entière sembla bouger, le sol s'est déplacé sur le côté en allers-retours trois fois ont l'ultime explanon de la mine. J'ai vu des débris s'envoler à des centaines de mitra en l'air avant de retember dans un fracas pire qu'un bombardement. J'ai pensée c’est la fin et je me sens enfoui la tête sous mon casque a mes bras, attendant la première frappe. Mais elle m'a épargné, alors que ce ne fut pas le cas de quelques hommes à ma gauche.

Les deux bataillons de la Ville d'Edimbourg doivent avancer à travers Sausage Valley, vers les points forts de l'ennemi. Mais malgré leurs tentatives, le feu dévastateur de l'artillerie et les tirs de mitrailleuses les forcent à virer plus à l'est sur la pente exposée. A mesure que la journée se déroule et que les combats feroces se poursuivent, les survivants des differents bataillons se retrouvent dans les tranchées ennemies. Encerclés par trois côtés, ils lancent un nouvel assaut sur Scot's Redoubt, l'un des objectifs, et, cette fois-ci, réussissent à le prendre. Plus tard dans la journée, les hommes avancent de nouveau et se rassemblent au-dessus de Contalmaison. Epuisés et en effectif considérablement réduit, ils ont, en le payant au prix fort, atteint au moirs l'un de leurs objectifs

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principaux.

Erected by The Lochnagar Crater Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, World I.

Location. 50° 0.917′ N, 2° 41.884′ E. Marker is in Ovillers-la-Boisselle, Hauts-de-France (Upper France), in Somme. It is on Route de la Grande Mine south of Route D20, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3 Rte de la Grande Mine, Ovillers-la-Boisselle, Hauts-de-France 80300, France. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

Europe,

the European Union,

Atlantic Europe,

the Schengen Area,

Western Europe,

a coastal Mediterranean country,

and the Western World.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a French colony

and also the Roman Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: An account by Pte. Billy Disbrey (a few steps from this marker); T'isnt worth it.... (a few steps from this marker); The Unseen Scars of War... (within shouting distance of this marker); The Sacrifice of All Nations (within shouting distance of this marker); Shot at Dawn (within shouting distance of this marker); Vera Brittain (within shouting distance of this marker); Pte. 1216 Charles R. Frankish (within shouting distance of this marker); Women of the Great War (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ovillers-la-Boisselle.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 1, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 1, 2024, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 119 times since then and 7 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 1, 2024, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia.