FLERS-COURCELETTE

The battle honour “Flers-Courcelette” (historically fought in September 1916) represents another landmark victory during the Somme campaign. It is famously remembered as the first battle in history where armoured tanks were deployed in combat, and it saw the first massive test of the creeping (or rolling) barrage to protect advancing infantry.
Though the main offensive was launched on September 15, 1916, the 2nd Battalion, CEF (the “Iron Second”)—perpetuated by the Governor General’s Foot Guards—played a vital, heroic role in its success.
The Prelude: The German trenches that the 2nd Battalion had brilliantly captured and held during their assault on Pozières Ridge on September 9 (“the Ninth of the Ninth”) served as the exact “jump-off” positions from which the 18th and 20th Canadian Battalions charged forward on September 15.
The Occupation of Courcelette: On September 20, 1916, the 2nd Battalion returned to the front to relieve the 3rd (Toronto) Battalion. They occupied a series of shellholes on the exposed hillside north and east of the shattered town ruins.
A General’s Trust: It was during this grueling phase that Major-General Arthur Currie (GOC of the 1st Canadian Division) sent a personal note of encouragement to Lt-Col. Swift, the 2nd Battalion’s commander, writing:
“I am glad it is the 2nd Battalion who are in the line on the north and east of Courcelette, because it is from that side our next advance is to be made… As usual, I am counting on the 2nd Battalion with all possible confidence”.
The Cost: The Battalion held these mud-filled shellholes under continuous, heavy German artillery bombardment for four days. When they were finally relieved on September 24, they had sustained 116 casualties.