Editing First day on the Somme (section)

=====Serre=====

{{see also|Battle of Hébuterne}}

[[File:Hawthorn Ridge mine 1 July 1916.jpg|thumb|{{centre|Explosion of the mine beneath [[Hawthorn Ridge Redoubt]], 7:20 a.m. Photo by [[Ernest Brooks (photographer)|Ernest Brooks]]}}]]
The [[4th Division (United Kingdom)|4th Division]] attacked between Serre and Beaumont-Hamel, capturing the Quadrilateral ({{lang|de|Heidenkopf}}) but could not exploit the success, because the Germans repulsed the attacks by the flanking divisions. Crossfire from Beaumont Hamel and Serre and determined counter-attacks held up the 4th Division. Parties of Lancashire Fusiliers, Seaforth Highlanders and troops from the 11th Brigade entered the Quadrilateral, where they were reinforced by a company of the Royal Irish Fusiliers during the night. Except at the Quadrilateral, the 4th Division ended the day back at its start line.{{sfn|Edmonds|1993|p=448}} No other gains were made and German counter-attacks overnight pushed the parties in the Quadrilateral back until only the Irish Fusiliers remained in the German front line, not having received an order to retreat early on 2 July. The Irish eventually withdrew at {{nowrap|11:30 a.m.}} with their wounded and three prisoners; the 4th Division suffered {{nowrap|5,752 casualties.}}{{sfn|Edmonds|1993|pp=424–429, 437–441, 448–449}} In 2006, Grahame Kingston recorded {{nowrap|5,890 casualties}} in the division during July.{{sfn|Kingston|2006|p=248}}

The 31st Division, a New Army division made up of Pals battalions, was to capture Serre and then turn north to form the northern defensive flank of the Fourth Army. The 31st Division attacked uphill from several copses and the two attacking brigades were engaged by the Germans with small-arms fire, expending {{nowrap|74,000 bullets}} against the attack. Small groups of the [[Accrington Pals]] and the [[Sheffield City Battalion]] managed to cross no man's land and reach Serre and a party advanced {{cvt|1.25|mi}} to Pendant Copse, before being cut off and killed or captured. Reserve Infantry Regiment 121 was confronted by the British attack before all the troops had emerged from their dugouts. More than three infantry sections were blown up in the mine explosion at Hawthorn Redoubt, the rest of the garrison being trapped until the end of the attack. A counter-attack towards the redoubt by two platoons gradually bombed the British back; after an hour only the troops in the {{lang|de|Heidenkopf}} remained and it was re-captured during the night. Reserve Infantry Regiment 119 suffered {{nowrap|292 casualties,}} Reserve Infantry Regiment 121 {{nowrap|560,}} Infantry Regiment 169 {{nowrap|362;}} the 31st Division suffered {{nowrap|3,600 casualties.}}{{sfn|Edmonds|1993|pp=424–429, 441–444, 448}}