Arrouaise Abbey

Sailly-Saillisel (French pronunciation: [saji sajizɛl]) is a commune in the Somme department in Hauts-de-France in northern France.

Le Transloy (French pronunciation: [lə tʁɑ̃lwa]) is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of France 18 miles (29 km) south of Arras.

Rocquigny (French pronunciation: [ʁɔkiɲi]) is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of France. about 20 miles (32 km) south of Arras.

Mesnil-en-Arrouaise (French pronunciation: [mɛnil ɑ̃.n‿aʁwɛz]) is a commune in the Somme department in Hauts-de-France in northern France.

Villers-au-Flos (French pronunciation: [vilɛʁ o flo]) is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of France.

Barastre is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region in northern France.

The Battle of Morval, 25–28 September 1916, was an attack during the Battle of the Somme by the British Fourth Army on the villages of Morval, Gueudecourt and Lesbœufs held by the German 1st Army, which had been the final objectives of the Battle of Flers–Courcelette (15–22 September). The main British attack was postponed to combine with attacks by the French Sixth Army on the village of Combles south of Morval. The attack was to close up to the German defences between Moislains and Le Transloy, near the Péronne–Bapaume road (N 17). The combined attack from the Somme river northwards to Martinpuich on the Albert–Bapaume road, was also intended to deprive the German defenders further west near Thiepval of reinforcements, before an attack by the Reserve Army, due on 26 September. The postponement was extended from 21 to 25 September because of rain, which affected operations more frequently during September. Combles, Morval, Lesbœufs and Gueudecourt were captured and many casualties inflicted on the Germans. The French made slower progress near the inter-army boundary, due to the obstruction of St Pierre Vaast Wood to the French attack north towards Sailly and Sailly-Saillisel. The inter-army boundary was moved north from 27 to 28 September, to allow the French more room to deploy their forces but the great quantity of German artillery-fire limited the French advance. The Fourth Army advance on 25 September was its deepest since 14 July and left the Germans in severe difficulties, particularly in a salient which developed to the north-east of Combles. Tiredness and lack of reserves prevented the Fourth Army exploiting its success beyond patrolling and cavalry probes. The Reserve Army attack began on 26 September, at the Battle of Thiepval Ridge. Deteriorating weather and the shorter days greatly increased British and French transport difficulties; rain and fog grounded aircraft and impeded artillery observation. Mud reduced the blast effect of shells and immobilised infantry, which was an advantage to the defenders. A small number of tanks joined in the battle later in the afternoon, after having been held back because of the later start, reducing a number of German strong points, which had withstood earlier attacks.

Morval (French pronunciation: [mɔʁval]) is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of France.

Rancourt (French pronunciation: [ʁɑ̃kuʁ] ) is a commune in the Somme department in Hauts-de-France in northern France.

Beaulencourt (French pronunciation: [bolɑ̃kuʁ]) is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region in northern France.

The Capture of Lesbœufs (French pronunciation: [lebø]) [25 September 1916] was a tactical incident in the Battle of the Somme 1916. Lesbœufs was a village on the D 74 between Gueudecourt and Morval, about 30 mi (48 km) north-east of Amiens; Le Transloy lies to the north-west and Bapaume is to the north. French Territorials fought the II Bavarian Corps on the north bank of the Somme in late September 1914, after which the front line moved west past the village. Little military activity occurred round the village until the beginning of the Battle of the Somme in July 1916, when German troops passed through the village in the first weeks of the battle. During the Battle of Flers–Courcelette (15–22 September), advances by the right flank corps of the British Fourth Army, brought the front line forward to the Gallwitz Riegel trenches west of Lesbœufs but exhaustion prevented the British from reaching their third objective, a line east of Morval, Lesbœufs and Gueudecourt. A combined offensive was prepared by the Fourth Army and the French Sixth Army but was postponed several times because of inclement weather and the Battle of Morval was delayed until 25–26 September. In the British sector, the final objectives of the Battle of Flers–Courcelette were captured, the 52nd Reserve Division garrison in Gallwitz Riegel (Gird Trench and Gird Support Trench) and Lesbœufs being overwhelmed by brigades of the 6th Division and the Guards Division. No German troops were available to counter-attack and the village was consolidated. The capture of Gueudecourt next day, linked the new front line between the villages. Lesbœufs was transferred to the control of the Sixth Army a few days later to enable the French to attack Sailly-Saillisel from the west. British attacks in the vicinity continued during the Battle of Le Transloy (1–28 October). During the rest of the winter of 1916–1917, offensive operations in the area diminished to shelling, sniper fire and trench raiding; the area became quiet after the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line in March 1917. The village was captured in March 1918 by the Germans during Operation Michael, the German spring offensive and reoccupied for the final time on 29 August, by the 38th Division, during the Second Battle of Bapaume.

Lesbœufs (French pronunciation: [lebø]) is a commune in the Somme department in Hauts-de-France in northern France.