IThis page is work in progress and more pics will be added over the next few days (29 May).

The memorial to the Liverpool and Manchester pals battalions that captured Montauban on 1 July 1916. This is one of the modern-day memorials, erected by a branch of the Western Front Association, and is in the village.

As the battalions of the 30th Division advanced north through Montauban, they reached a quarry, now the site of Quarry Cemetery. On the skyline (left), the slope up toward the second strong German position, at Longuval and Delville Wood.

Quarry Cemetery, Montauban.

Looking directly west from the entrance to Quarry Cemetery, the village of Montauban is away to the left. This gentle valley moves away toward Mametz and skirts round Caterpillar Wood, which can be seen on the skyline. Mametz Wood is just beyond the skyline. On the right, the slope up toward the second strong German position, at Bazentin-le-Petit.

Dantzig Alley was a main German communication trench, running northeast of out Mametz along the track to Montauban .

Dantzig Alley was captured by battalions of 91st Brigade on 1 July 1916. The plots of graves at the top of the slope (near the track) are mainly of casualties from that day.

The view from the back of Dantzig Alley cemetery, across to Fricourt and Mametz Woods, is stunning.

The track running past Dantzig Alley cemetery, down into the village of Mametz. On the right, the gentle slope down to Willow stream.

The site of 7th Division's attack against Mametz on 1 July 1916. dantig Alley is now off top right of he photo, with Montauban well off to the right. Below is the road running from Albert, past Carnoy. Mametz can be seen among the trees. The Gordon Highlanders, South Staffords and Manchesters advanced from right to left, crossing two German trenches that lay across this green sward. The photographer is standing on the site of the British front line, at Mansel Copse.

From the same spot, looking east toward Carnoy; Caftet Wood in the distance and Gordon Cemetery in the field .

The view of the British front line from the viewpoint of German machine gunners at the Shrine (at Mametz village cemetery) . Caftet Wood is on the far left. The Albert-Carnoy road can be seen and the whitish patch in front of the trees is where the photos above were taken. The British line ran behind those trees and up the sope. Machine guns here swept the two battalions of the Devonshire Regiment as the advanced along the shallow valley.

In Mansel Copse, a cemetery created where some of the Devons casualties of 1 July 1916 were buried. "The Devons held this trench; the Devons hold it still" .

West of Mametz lies Fricourt, considered to be too strongly defended for direct frontal attack. We have now travelled around and past Fricourt, seen here in the middle ground. On the horizon, Mansel Copse and the woods on the slopes facing Mametz. From this higher ground, units of 21st Division attacked the flanks of the village.

 

Extending our view from the one above a little way to the right, cratered ground at the Tambour, where mines were blown before and on 1 July 1916.

The 10th (Service) Battalion of the West Yorkshire Regiment had the unfortunate distinction of suffering the greatest losses to any of the attacking units that day. Many of the 22 officers and 688 men who were killed or wounded lie here in this most poignant of comrade's cemeteries at Fricourt.

We carry on following the front lines of 1 July 1916, next reaching La Boisselle. The memorial to the 34th Division, in fields near the village church and close to the memorial of the 19th (Western) Division, looks over ground that saw the attacking units of the Northumberland Fusiliers, Yorkshire regiments and others swept by fire.

View from the base of the same memorial, looking north. Hidden in the dip between green grass and brown field beyond is the main Albert-Bapaume road. Albert lies off to the left, la Boisselle to our immediate left; Ovillers and Pozieres to the right and off picture. The dip is "Mash Valley", scene of carnage on 1 July 1916 as 34th and 8th Divisions struggle forward (left to right) over a lengthy fire-swept no man's land. Ovillers Military Cemetery on the far slope.

Whetted your appetite? The Somme is a wonderful battlefield to visit, being evocative, full of places of interest and naturally pretty. If you plan on going, try our guide to visiting the Somme .