The 2nd York & Lancs was part of XIV Corps in the battle which first used tanks.

Drawing of the area of IVth Army

I suspect that at the time of the battle my grandfather was still with 6th Battalion, but my information on his movements at this time is sketchy, at best.

The XIV Corps at this time consisted of the 56th Division, the 6th Division and the Guards Division.

Map to show corps dispositions and approximate positions of the first, second and third objectives.

The following is taken from the 2nd York & Lancs battalion history;

“In the Operation Orders it was directed that Fourth Army would attack the enemy’s defences between the Combles Ravine and Martinpuich with the object of seizing Morval, Les Boeufs, Gueudecourt and Flers, and breaking through the enemy’s system of defence. The capture of Morval and Les Boeufs was to be undertaken by the Guards and 6th Divisions, this latter attacking with the 16th and 71st Brigades in front on the right and left respectively, and the 18th Brigade in reserve. Three tanks were detailed to accompany the 6th Division, this being the first occasion upon which these new engines of war had been employed; they were not, however, a success, for two broke down and the third was disabled and had to turn back.”

17 of the tanks had been allocated to XIV Corps; 4 to 56 Division, 3 to 6 Division and 10 to the Guards.  I will come on to what happened to the tanks later. The map shows that in the area in front of XIV Corps there was no German second line, they were one, so only two objectives but the sticking point for them would be the strong point of the ‘Quadrilateral’. This would cause them considerable problems.