Cassella, J.P

Doyle, P

Pringle, J.K.

Wisniewski, K

English

Doyle, P.

Goldsmiths Research Online

12/01/2024, 13:16 Battle of the Somme: new research shows detonating a massive mine under German lines too early led to a British slaughterhttps://theconversation.com/battle-of-the-somme-new-research-shows-detonating-a-massive-mine-under-german-lines-too-early-led-to-a-british-slaughter-220706 1/7Academic rigour, journalistic flairJamie PringleReader in Forensic Geoscience, Keele UniversityJohn Paul CassellaLecturer in Forensic Investigation & Analysis, Professor of Forensic Science Education, Atlantic Technological UniversityKristopher WisniewskiLecturer in Forensic Science, Keele UniversityPeter DoyleProfessor and Lecturer in Military History, Goldsmiths, University of LondonThe Battle of the Somme began on July 1 1916 with a spectacular explosion under Hawthorn Ridge – afortified German frontline position west of the village of Beaumont Hamel in northern France. Thefootage of the explosion remains one of the best-known pieces of film from the whole conflict.‘The earth rose in the air to the height of hundreds of feet.’: but a delay in the infantry attack meant that hundreds of Britishtroops were killed.Battle of the Somme: new research shows detonating amassive mine under German lines too early led to aBritish slaughterPublished: January 8, 2024 4.43pm GMT12/01/2024, 13:16 Battle of the Somme: new research shows detonating a massive mine under German lines too early led to a British slaughterhttps://theconversation.com/battle-of-the-somme-new-research-shows-detonating-a-massive-mine-under-german-lines-too-early-led-to-a-british-slaughter-220706 2/7Almost 60ft below the surface, British miners of the 252 Tunnelling Company had hand dug a galleryfor more than 900 metres through chalk and packed it with 40,000lbs of ammonal explosives. It wasone of 19 mines placed beneath German front positions that were detonated on July 1 1916, to markthe start of the offensive.But the mine detonation at Hawthorn Ridge, famously captured by military film director Geoffrey Malins, took place ten minutes before the whistles blew at 7.30am. This controversial decision wasmade in order to protect the attacking British troops from falling debris.But disastrously, it allowed the Germans to take the crater and repel their advance, leading to massivelosses among the attacking British troops from the 29th infantry division.Malins recorded his feelings after the event in the film The Battle of the Somme, released later thatsummer:The ground where I stood gave a mighty convulsion, it rocked and swayed … the earth rosein the air to the height of hundreds of feet. Higher and higher it rose, and with a horrible,grinding roar the earth fell back upon itself, leaving in its place a mountain of smoke.British (west) and German (east) trench lines on July 1 1916 at Beaumont Hamel. Modified fromWisniewski et al. (2024)., Author provided (no reuse)12/01/2024, 13:16 Battle of the Somme: new research shows detonating a massive mine under German lines too early led to a British slaughterhttps://theconversation.com/battle-of-the-somme-new-research-shows-detonating-a-massive-mine-under-german-lines-too-early-led-to-a-british-slaughter-220706 3/7Bringing science to bear on historyNow, the first scientific study to be carried out at the 107-year-old crater has just been published andhas unearthed new details on its history. Our team of researchers, which comprised the authors listedhere – scientists from Keele and Staffordshire universities supported by a historian from Goldsmiths,University of London – used a range of cutting–edge technology to examine the site as it has neverbeen seen before.Surveys of the surface examined the crater in detail never before seen at this site. It revealed shellholes clustered to the east of the crater that had been created by British artillery in their attempts todislodge the Germans from their crater stronghold.Hawthorn Drone ExamplesDrone footage taken over Hawthorn Crater, Beaumont Hamel, Northern France.12/01/2024, 13:16 Battle of the Somme: new research shows detonating a massive mine under German lines too early led to a British slaughterhttps://theconversation.com/battle-of-the-somme-new-research-shows-detonating-a-massive-mine-under-german-lines-too-early-led-to-a-british-slaughter-220706 4/7Other technical surveys greatly enhanced our knowledge of this internationally significant site. Overtwo field seasons in 2018 and 2019 we carried out magnetic and electrical resistivity geophysical surveys, to identify promising areas for subsequent archaeological excavations.While, due to the variable topographic conditions and the inevitably metallic debris of the battlefield,these surveys were difficult to carry out, they were incredibly valuable, as they pointed the way forfruitful excavations.Read more: Explainer: how do archaeologists discover forgotten ancient monuments?Carried out in the third field season in 2020, these archaeological excavations uncovered hardevidence of the stubborn German defence on that fateful first day on the Somme. Though the earlydetonation led to the loss of many Württemberg infantrymen of the German 119th Reserve InfantryRegiment, our work uncovered hard evidence of how the newly formed crater was turned to theiradvantage.Hawthorn Crater LiDAR  y-throughDigital fly-through of ground-based lidar dataset taken at Hawthorn Crater, Beaumont Hamel, NorthernFrance.12/01/2024, 13:16 Battle of the Somme: new research shows detonating a massive mine under German lines too early led to a British slaughterhttps://theconversation.com/battle-of-the-somme-new-research-shows-detonating-a-massive-mine-under-german-lines-too-early-led-to-a-british-slaughter-220706 5/7It revealed the still-intact German defensive fire-pits, barbed wire and other materials showing howthe Germans quickly built the crater as a new defensive position into their frontline, meaning thechance for the British breakthrough in the early days of the Somme was lost.An unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) survey – a now common way to map scientific areas of interest –also uncovered evidence of a previously unknown “sap” or shallow tunnel, most probably dug by theGermans after they had captured the crater, probing towards the British lines, again showing theirmastery of no man’s land after the initial detonation.Archaeological excavations of defensive fire-bay in progress exposing German pattern barbed wire.Note the sandbags are modern. Author provided12/01/2024, 13:16 Battle of the Somme: new research shows detonating a massive mine under German lines too early led to a British slaughterhttps://theconversation.com/battle-of-the-somme-new-research-shows-detonating-a-massive-mine-under-german-lines-too-early-led-to-a-british-slaughter-220706 6/7If at first you don’t succeed…As the battle dragged on towards winter, a second attempt to capture this new position was tried, andthis time, was more successful. A second mine was laid using 30,000lbs of ammonal explosive, andwas blown from the same tunnel on November 13 1916.With no delay this time, and with better planning, the mine was much more effective, aiding the 51stHighland Division to capture Hawthorn ridge and the nearby village.Our surface surveys mapped out this second crater, merging as it does with the original in today’slandscape. This time, archaeological surveys discovered an empty ammunition box for a Vickersmachine gun within the crater, reflecting the period of British occupation of the site.August At HawthornFootage explaining the conflict archaeology phase of the investigation at Hawthorn Crater, BeaumontHamel, Northern France.12/01/2024, 13:16 Battle of the Somme: new research shows detonating a massive mine under German lines too early led to a British slaughterhttps://theconversation.com/battle-of-the-somme-new-research-shows-detonating-a-massive-mine-under-german-lines-too-early-led-to-a-british-slaughter-220706 7/7Our study has provided rarely undertaken scientific investigations of a mine crater, and of thestrongpoint the Germans built in no man’s land that doomed the initial British attack to failure.Our results reinforce the notion that blowing the mine ten minutes early was a very bad idea. While itwas intended to protect the attackers from falling debris, it gave the Germans time to capture avaluable strongpoint, ripe for fortification.It was only with concerted effort four months later, and the second mine and subsequent detonationon November 13, that the Hawthorn redoubt was finally captured by the 51st Highlanders, markingthe end of the battle some five days later. This time the mine was exploded immediately before theground assault began – the early detonation of the July 1 was not repeated.It was a lesson learned the hard way. More than 3 million men fought in the Battle of the Somme, amillion of whom were killed or injured, making it one of the deadliest battles in human history.Summary map of findings. The two crater are identified, with the archaeology discovering German-constructed defensive firebays and probable Allied shell ordnance craters. Author provided

Battle of the Somme: new research shows detonating a massive mine under German lines too early led to a British slaughter

https://research.gold.ac.uk/id/eprint/34633/1/Battle%20of%20the%20Somme_%20new%20research%20shows%20detonating%20a%20massive%20mine%20under%20German%20lines%20too%20early%20led%20to%20a%20British%20slaughter.pdf

Battle of the Somme: new research shows detonating a massive mine under German lines too early led to a British slaughter

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