tantly with the Lee-Enfield rifle. Although 1 It was to this area that the Canadian was CID had been re-armed earlier, the rest of the Corps sent, over a distance of 50 miles, to relieve the was still using the Canadian Ross rifle. By this exhausted Australian Corps. By 3 September, 1 time, the Ross had been found want- ing, had taken over 3,000 yards of the front, CID especially during rapid fire when it tended to while 2 and 3 prepared to mount an at- tack CIDs jam and become inoperable. These on 15 September. 4 had arrived in France by CID improvements were essential as there was every the middle of August, but it was still in the indication that the Canadian Corps would be Ypres Salient becoming accustomed to the drawn into the Battle of the Somme. It began routines and rigours of trench warfare. with a mammoth British Army assault on At 0620 hours, 15 September 1916, 2 and 3 German defences on 1 July 1916, mainly to attacked with Courcelette as the objec- tive. CIDs draw German reserves away from the in- tense The assault was novel in two ways: the ar- tillery battle at Verdun, where the French were being fire plan called for a creeping barrage and tanks bled white to prevent a German victory. The were used for the first time; it was highly opening day of the assault was a disaster as the successful. As a surprise move, there was a new British divisions suffered nearly 60,000 second Canadian attack at 1800 hours, also a casualties. The attacks continued until early success. At the end of the week, during which 1 September when most of the 1 July ob- jectives was also involved, the Canadians had made CID had been captured after an advance of 7,000 daily gains greater than any the British Army yards, but at a cost of nearly 200,000 ca- had made to date. The effort ad- vanced the front sualties. The battle of attrition did force the line by nearly one mile and took important Germans to abandon their attack at Verdun, but ground, at a cost of nearly 7,000 casualties. Yet at the Somme they still held the northern end of the main German strong points had not been their position in the area of Thiepval. taken. As a second phase
tantly with the Lee-Enfield rifle. Although 1 CID had been re-armed earlier, the rest of the Corps was still using the Canadian Ross rifle. By this time, the Ross had been found want- ing, especially during rapid fire when it tended to jam and become inoperable. These improvements were essential as there was every indication that the Canadian Corps would be drawn into the Battle of the Somme. It began with a mammoth British Army assault on German defences on 1 July 1916, mainly to draw German reserves away from the in- tense battle at Verdun, where the French were being bled white to prevent a German victory. The opening day of the assault was a disaster as the new British divisions suffered nearly 60,000 casualties. The attacks continued until early September when most of the 1 July ob- jectives had been captured after an advance of 7,000 yards, but at a cost of nearly 200,000 ca- sualties. The battle of attrition did force the Germans to abandon their attack at Verdun, but at the Somme they still held the northern end of their position in the area of Thiepval. It was to this area that the Canadian was sent, over a distance of 50 miles, to relieve the exhausted Australian Corps. By 3 September, 1 CID had taken over 3,000 yards of the front, while 2 and 3 CIDs prepared to mount an at- tack on 15 September. 4 CID had arrived in France by the middle of August, but it was still in the Ypres Salient becoming accustomed to the routines and rigours of trench warfare. At 0620 hours, 15 September 1916, 2 and 3 CIDs attacked with Courcelette as the objec- tive. The assault was novel in two ways: the ar- tillery fire plan called for a creeping barrage and tanks were used for the first time; it was highly successful. As a surprise move, there was a second Canadian attack at 1800 hours, also a success. At the end of the week, during which 1 CID was also involved, the Canadians had made daily gains greater than any the British Army had made to date. The effort ad- vanced the front line by nearly one mile and took important ground, at a cost of nearly 7,000 casualties. Yet the main German strong points had not been taken. As a second phase
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