Remembering the 1st July 1916

Remembering the 1st July 1916 - Exmouth Museum and Heritage Centre registered charity 291311

By: Alan Arthur
Added: 01 July 2016

The Devonshire Regiment at the Battle of the Somme

2nd Battalion Devons involved on first day (July 1st 1916) with 11 officers and 221 men killed or missing and 5 Officers and 194 men wounded

9th  Btn. Devons - 8 officers and 196 men killed or missing and 9 Officers and 267 men wounded. Only 1 Officer not a casualty.

8th Btn. Devons assembled further back in Reserve but were then put in to the line - 3 officers and 47 men killed or missing, 7 officers and 151 men wounded.

A special cemetery for the 8th and 9th Btns was made at Mansel Copse with 160 officers and men who could be identified buried on evening of July 4th 

The cemetery bears the legend “The Devonshires held this trench - The Devonshires hold it still”