Leipzig Salient.
The Leipzig Salient was a German defensive position built in 1915 on the Somme in France, during the First World War, opposite the village of Authuille which contained the Leipzig Redoubt on its west face. The position was to the south-west of the later Thiepval Memorial, north-east of the La Boisselle–Authuille and Thiepval–Aveluy crossroads. The German front line bulged around a quarry, which the Germans fortified and enclosed with Hindenburg Trench, which had been dug further back across the chord of the salient. The Wundtwerk Redoubt (Wonderwork to the British), lay beyond on a reverse slope. Nab Valley lay on the east side, Thiepval was to the north, with the fortified Mouquet Farm and the village of Pozières to the north-west.
On the First day on the Somme (1 July 1916), the Leipzig Salient was attacked by the 1/17th Highland Light Infantry (17th HLI) of the 32nd Division. The battalion crept forward at 7.23 a.m., ready to rush the German defences as soon as the British barrage lifted at 7:30 a.m. The Scots advanced until 30–40 yd (27–37 m) short of the German front line, rushed forward to the redoubt when the barrage lifted and caught the German garrison while they were sheltering in their dugouts in the quarry at the centre of the redoubt. The Troops of the 17th HLI pressed on to the next objective but were forced back to the Leipzig Redoubt and consolidated with troops of the 2nd King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.
Leipzig Salient.
The Leipzig Salient was a German defensive position built in 1915 on the Somme in France, during the First World War, opposite the village of Authuille which contained the Leipzig Redoubt on its west face. The position was to the south-west of the later Thiepval Memorial, north-east of the La Boisselle–Authuille and Thiepval–Aveluy crossroads. The German front line bulged around a quarry, which the Germans fortified and enclosed with Hindenburg Trench, which had been dug further back across the chord of the salient. The Wundtwerk Redoubt (Wonderwork to the British), lay beyond on a reverse slope. Nab Valley lay on the east side, Thiepval was to the north, with the fortified Mouquet Farm and the village of Pozières to the north-west.
On the First day on the Somme (1 July 1916), the Leipzig Salient was attacked by the 1/17th Highland Light Infantry (17th HLI) of the 32nd Division. The battalion crept forward at 7.23 a.m., ready to rush the German defences as soon as the British barrage lifted at 7:30 a.m. The Scots advanced until 30–40 yd (27–37 m) short of the German front line, rushed forward to the redoubt when the barrage lifted and caught the German garrison while they were sheltering in their dugouts in the quarry at the centre of the redoubt. The Troops of the 17th HLI pressed on to the next objective but were forced back to the Leipzig Redoubt and consolidated with troops of the 2nd King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.