About the books
XIII & XV Corps operations between Maricourt - Fricourt
1st July 1916

In this series of books the author, with 14-years of research, sets out to chronicle in greater detail than ever before the story of 1 July 1916. Two volumes are presently available with another three to follow.

VOLUME I: ZERO HOUR Z DAY

(XIII OPERATIONS BETWEEN MARICOURT – MAMETZ)

Volume I sets out to narrate the story of XIII Corps and the successful assaults by 30th and 18th Divisions. As the only Corps to achieve all its objectives for 1 July 1916, the book seeks to determine why this success was attained, when so many other units along the front barely crossed No-Man’s-Land. Using previously unseen material and utilising untold accounts it analyses the build-up, preparations, intelligence, weapons, tactics, training, rehearsals and attack undertaken at Zero Hour, Z Day between the villages of Maricourt and Mametz.

Featuring

  • 512 A4 size pages in 35 Chapters
  • 79 Colour maps
  • 142 B&W photographs
  • 41 Colour photographs
  • 83 Colour and B&W aerial photographs
  • 650 Bios and images of the men
  • 38 sketches
  • Available as A4 Hardback £30 ISBN 978-0-9956911-0-0
  • Available as A4 Softback £25 ISBN 978-0-9956911-1-7
  • £3.50 UK Postage

Volume I Chapters

  1. Introduction
  2. Fourth Army Formulating an offensive Plan.
  3. The Ground Maricourt – Mametz.
  4. British Forces XIII Corps, 30th & 18th Divisions.
  5. German Forces Montauban – Mametz.
  6. Planning & General Preparations.
  7. Intelligence, Patrols & Raids.
  8. Heavy & Divisional Artillery.
  9. RFC & Kite Balloons.
  10. Heavy Medium and Light Mortars.
  11. Brigade Machine-Guns.
  12. Mining, Russian Saps & Special Brigade.
  13. Medical Services.
  14. Training, Rehearsals & Orders.
  15. U Day, Saturday 24 June.
  16. V Day, Sunday 25 June.
  17. W Day, Monday 26 June.
  18. X Day, Tuesday 27 June.
  19. Y Day, Wednesday 28 June.
  20. Y-1 Day, Thursday 29 June.
  21. Y-2 Day, Friday 30 June.
  22. Z Day, Final Hours & Bombardment.
  23. Zero Hour, 89th Brigade, 30th Division.
  24. Zero Hour, 21st Brigade, 30th Division.
  25. Capture of Montauban, 90th Brigade, 30th Division.
  26. Capture of Montauban Brickworks.
  27. Consolidation & Counterattack.
  28. Zero Hour, 55th Brigade, 18th Division.
  29. The Fight for Carnoy Craters.
  30. Zero Hour, 53rd Brigade, 18th Division.
  31. Zero Hour, 54th Brigade, 18th Division.
  32. Consolidation (18th Division).
  33. Removing the Wounded.
  34. Clearing the Dead.
  35. XIII Corps Analysis.

VOLUME II: ZERO HOUR Z DAY

(XV OPERATIONS BETWEEN MAMETZ - FRICOURT)

Volume II studies, then analyses operations undertaken by XV Corps, comprising 7th, 21st and 17th Divisions. Like the previous book detailing XIII Corps, focus is on the successful southern flank of the British Fourth Army attack. Under the command of Lt. Gen. Henry Sinclair Horne, XV Corps achieved virtually total success on Z Day, finishing the job the following morning. In so doing, they drove the Germans from Fricourt Spur, the lower slopes of Montauban Ridge and captured the bastion villages of Mametz and Fricourt, killing many of the enemy and capturing over 2,000 prisoners. Their achievements were at the polar opposite of what British folklore would have us believe regarding the supposedly futile and blundering events of 1 July 1916.

Featuring

  • 704 A4 pages (colour throughout)
  • 70 colour maps
  • 164 B&W photographs
  • 140 colour and B&W aerial photographs
  • 1,138 bios and images of the men
  • 95 sketches and plans
  • 42 colour photographs
  • 20 panoramic photographs
  • Available as A4 Hardback ISBN 978-0-9956911-2-4
  • Available as A4 Softcover ISBN 978-0-9956911-3-1

Volume II Chapters

  1. General Allied Strategy.
  2. The Ground Mametz-Fricourt.
  3. The Area Sept 1914-March 1916.
  4. XV Corps (7th , 17th & 21st Divisions).
  5. Planning & Preparations.
  6. Intelligence Patrols & Raids.
  7. Heavy & Divisional Artillery.
  8. RFC & Kite Balloons.
  9. Divisional Trench Mortars.
  10. Brigade Machine Gun Companies.
  11. Mining, Russian Saps & Special Bde.
  12. XV Corps Medical Evacuation Plan.
  13. Tactics, Training & Orders.
  14. U Day, Saturday 24 June.
  15. V Day, Sunday 25 June.
  16. W Day, Monday 26 June.
  17. X Day, Tuesday 27 June.
  18. Y Day, Wednesday 28 June.
  19. Y1 Day, Thursday 29 June.
  20. Y2 Day & Assembly Friday 30 June.
  21. Z Day Final Hours & Bombardment.
  22. Zero Hour 91st Brigade.
  23. Zero Hour 20th Brigade.
  24. Zero Hour 50th Brigade (Fricourt).
  25. Zero Hour 63rd Brigade.
  26. Zero Hour 64th Brigade.
  27. Hill 110 & Fricourt (Afternoon).
  28. Reinforce & Support 62nd Brigade.
  29. Consolidation.
  30. Removing the Wounded.
  31. Clearing the Dead.
  32. XV Corps Analysis