New Videos on the 15th Bn CEF at Mount Sorrel, the Somme
Our thanks to Greg Young who produced the video to help us remember the Battle of Mount Sorrel in the Ypres salient from 2 to 13 June 1916 and the role played by the 15th Battalion.
We remember 105th anniversary of
Mount Sorrel/Observatory Ridge
Background to the Battle via the Canadian War Museum
The 15th Battalion at the Somme and Thiepval Ridge
Greg Young’s tribute to the 15th Battalion in the tragic battle that saw an enormous number of casualties and became a signature event in the First World War.
Between September 1st and October 14th, 1916 the 15th Battalion took part in the Canadian Corps’ offensive on The Somme for which the battalion was awarded the Battle Honours, Somme 1916, Poziers, Thiepval and Ancre Heights. There were three phases in the 15th Battalion’s participation in Somme offensive: September 1-25 saw the battalion arrive in Albert and move into the forward trench line near Poziers and Mouquet Farm taking part in the fighting to advance the line closer to Courcelette; on September 26th the battalion took part in the 3rd Brigade’s assault on Thiepval ridge advancing the line north of Courcelette towards Regina Trench; September 29-October 14 saw the battalion in close support positions on the edge of Courcelette operating in the ‘Sunken Road’ and ‘Death Valley until it was withdrawn in October.
During its time on the Somme, the 15th Battalion lost almost half of its usual strength suffering well over 500 casualties – between September 25th and 28th alone 2 Officers and 115 Other Ranks were killed, missing or died of wounds.
This video covers the period from September 1st to October 14th, 1916 and commemorates all those men of the Battalion that fell on The Somme.
