Merretts Wood.

[jonti]

The Australian 38th Battalion fought at this place, one of many battles which were included in the 2nd battle of the Somme in 1918. My father was in the Royal Fusiliers and he moved up to the Front with the Aussies. They used small railway systems to move troops back and forth to the Front and the Aussies were betting on which fly would climb the window first to the top. Does anyone know exactly where Merretts Wood is? It is a battle honour of the 38th Battalion but I have never seen the name mentioned in any history of WW1.

[Stan.J]

Jonti, Since your post I have been checking all the books I have and also the web and the WW1 site of which I belong. I have not found Merretts wood. I wonder if it could have been named after one of the combatants who sometimes were associated with places. It could also have been associated with the battle of Messines, There were a number of small coppices etc in the area?? sorry cant really help, but you never know????

[herakles]

The first thing I found on Google was a link to your post! Crikey! They really are watching us.

I have heard of it and I'm fairly certain I've been there. But I can't recall where it is now and I don't have my references with me.

[Stan.J]

Well I never, We have it.....It is actually Marrett Wood and it is west of Morlancourt.
You can also download this Part of the Australian record of WW1.
http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_image/histories/6/chapters/00.pdf

[Stan.J]

for some reason the above Web doesnt come out right. it should read (Part) cms_images/histories/6/chapters remainder is OK

[jonti]

Hi Stan & herakles. Sorry to have been so long responding to your posts on Merretts Wood. I only ever heard the place spoken of, never written down. The correct name is Marett Wood and I have downloaded a photo from the AWM Canberra, of the dugouts built into a sloping earth wall right where my father would have been fighting alongside the Aussie battalions. Fantastic.
Many thanks for your interest and help. Rob T

[herakles]

It has been a long time between drinks!

I found one reference to it at Google. Seems Merretts Wood is near the village of Sailly–le–Sec, Morlancourt area. Men of he Australian 3rd Division, particulartly the 37th Battalion (Victoria) and the 44th (Western Australia).

It's well written up in the official history as Charles Bean is quoted (Vol 5). And we're looking at March/April 1918.

There's some nice photos there including I would guess, the one you obtained.

http://www.ww1westernfront.gov.au/sailly-le-sec/30-March-1918.html

[jonti]

The photo on your nominated website is brilliant, light and in focus considering its age. The 2 that I have downloaded came from Google Search 'Marett Wood' and their AWM numbers are E04704 and E04819K. They show views of the sunken road in both directions. What a terrible life those blokes must have had living in the dugouts for weeks on end. Rob T

[herakles]

Terrible indeed. But far worse at Paschendale in the mud. Men drowned in the mud.

The AWM has a huge collection of photos. But they are not all free to use. Only those no longer covered by copyright. The others have a large watermark imposed over them. A good solution for those with special photos that they are hesitant to display.

[culverin]

I am not a Military man and do not pretend to understand Military matters.
However, can someone explain exactly how many battles constituted what is known as the battle of the Somme.
The Somme is a river and in which region all these battles or actions took place. Were they all part of a big pre detetmined overall plan, or did they just occur at random when or wherever you bumped into the enemy with the overall action conveniently called the battle of the Somme.
That sounds a little simplistic as every encounter appears to be called the battle of this or action at so and so.

[culverin]

What i have found to be truly remarkable on these battle fields are the really original and inventive names the troops have given to every conceivable part they occupy from parts of trenches, places of refuge where such places existed and every other nook and cranny they built.
Presumably some sort of escapism in an attempt to bring humour and homeliness to what would be a pretty awful environment to attempt to survive in and remain sane.

[jainso31]

The Battles of the Somme which made up the Somme Offensive (1/7/16-18/1116) were as follows :---LEFT
The Battles of the 2nd Somme ie (German Offensive) which was (21/3/18-5/4/18) were as follows :---RIGHT

There were twelve in total There were six in total
1)BATTLE OF ALBERT----------------------1/7/16-13/7/16. ````` (1) BATTLE OF ST QUENTIN---------------------------21/3/19-23/3/18
2)BATTLE OF BAZENTIN-------------------14-17/7/16. ```````` (2)FIRST BATTLE OF BAPAUME-----------------------24/3/18-25/3/18
3)BATTLE OF DELVILLE WOOD------------15/7/16-3/9/16.`` ``` (3)BATTLE OF ROSIERES-----------------------------26/3/18-27/3/18
4)BATTLE OF POZIERES-------------------23/7/16/-3/9/16. ````` (4)FIRST BATTLE OF ARRAS--------------------------26/3/18
5)BATTLE OF GUILLEMONT----------------3/9/16-6/9/16 ``` `` ` (5)BATTLE OF THE AVRE----------------------------- 4/4/18
6)BATTLE OF GINCHY----------------------9/9/16 `` `````````` (6)BATTLE OF THE ANCRE 1918-----------------------5/4/18
7)BATTLE OF FLERS-COUCELETTE--------15/9/16-22/9/16
8)BATTLE OF MORVAL---------------------26/9/16-28/9/16
9)BATTLE OF THIEPVAL-------------------26//9/16-28/9/16
10)BATTLE OF LE TRANSLOY--------------1/10/16-18/10/16
11)BATTLE OF ANCRE HEIGHTS-----------1/10/16-11/11/16
12)BATTLE OF THE ANCRE-----------------13/11/16-18/11/16

REF.1921 Battles Nomenclature Committee.

jainso31