Gueudecourt

French commune|nomcommune=Gueudecourt
région=Picardie
département=Somme
arrondissement=Péronne
canton=Combles
insee=80397
cp=80360
maire=Suzanne Guise
mandat=2001-2008
intercomm=
longitude=2.84333333333
latitude=50.0594444444
alt moy=119 m
alt mini=104 m
alt maxi=147 m
hectares=487
km²=4.87
sans=104
date-sans=1999
dens=21
date-dens=1999

Gueudecourt is a commune of the Somme "département" in northern France.

History

During the Battle of the Somme, the town of Gueudecourt had comprised one of the most distant objectives for the British drive that opened on September 15 1916, a drive that has come to be known as the Battle of Flers-Courcelette. Although the British had not been able to take Gueudecourt during the battle’s commencement, continual fighting had brought the town within reach by September 25, when the Battle of Morval opened. The primary trench-lines that guarded the town, and through which the 21st Division of the XV Corps had to assault, were Goat Trench, Gird Trench, and Gird Support. The 10th King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and the 1st East Yorks (64th Brigade) attacked Gird Trench, but could make no headway, while the 1st Lincolns were stopped by shellfire in the British frontline. The 8th and 9th Leicesters (110th Brigade) had greater success, taking Goat Trench, but machine-gun fire prevented them from taking Gird. On the morning of September 26, at 6:30 am, a tank came up Pilgrim’s way to assist in the capture of Gird trench—the Battle of Morval marked only the second use of tanks in war. Behind the tank, bombers of the 7th Leicesters followed, driving the Germans from Gird Trench. The tank moved towards the Southeast of Gueudecourt before retiring from the scene. A combined thrust of infantry (6th Leicesters) and cavalry (19th Lancers and South Irish Horse) occupied the town that evening. The final position in this sector, as of September 26, was a little short of the Gueudecourt—Le Transloy road.