• Where and when did this battle take place?

• Who was involved in the battle? (Countries, commanders, armies)

• Why was this battle fought? What was the strategic goal?

• How long did the battle last, and how many soldiers fought?

• How did geography (hills, trenches, weather) affect the battle?

• How many New Zealand soldiers fought in this battle, and what units were they part of?

• What was a key moment or achievement for New Zealand troops during this battle?

• What challenges or dangers were unique to New Zealand soldiers in this battle?

• How did this battle impact New Zealanders at home (families, newspapers, government)?

• How is this battle remembered in New Zealand today (memorials, Anzac Day, ceremonies)?

• What weapons and technology were used in this battle?

• What strategies did each side use to try to win?

• How did commanders organize their troops and attacks?

• Were there any major mistakes or failures in tactics?

• What does a map of this battle show about how it was fought?

• What were the living conditions like for soldiers in the trenches?

• How did weather and terrain impact the battle?

• What types of diseases and medical issues affected soldiers?

• What emotions might soldiers have felt while waiting for battle?

• What were the biggest dangers soldiers faced daily?

• Can you find a letter, diary entry, or quote from a soldier in this battle?

• What do personal stories tell us that official reports do not?

• How did soldiers describe their emotions and experiences?

• Were there any New Zealand soldiers with remarkable stories in this battle?

• How did soldiers remember this battle after it was over?

• Who "won" the battle? Did it achieve its goal?

• How many casualties (deaths and injuries) were there?

• How did this battle change the war?

• How did people at home (NZ and elsewhere) react to this battle?

• What lessons were learned from this battle?

The weather for the soldiers was rainy, and the trenches would flood, and in some cases, soldiers would drown.

Diseases in the trenches were mainly lice and trench fever that soldiers would pick up from being in the trenches all the time.

soldiers got really sad and depressed knowing that they would have to sacrifice themselves in the war for their country.

The biggest dangers the soldiers faced were the machine guns, continually killing, and the chances of survival after crossing no-man 's-land territory.

Approximately 18,000 New Zealanders of the New Zealand Division took part in the Somme offensive between mid-September and mid-October 1916.

The New Zealand Division was an infantry formation of around 15,000 men.

What was a key moment or achievement for New Zealand troops during this battle

On 15 September 1916, the New Zealand Division captured the strategically vital Switch Trench and advanced toward Flers, achieving their first major objectives on the Western Front .

Over the 23 days engaged, they advanced roughly 3 km, captured or consolidated 8 km of German trenches, and took many prisoners.

The New Zealand Rifle Brigade played a leading role in the attack at Flers-Courcelette.

What challenges or dangers were unique to New Zealand soldiers in this battle

The New Zealanders endured extremely high casualty rates: of 18,000 troops over 2,100 were killed, and around 6,000 were wounded.

In just 23 days, the toll mirrored that of the eight-month Gallipoli campaign, exhausting the troops physically and mentally a spent force, no sleep, no food, very little water.

Battling in heavily bombarded, trench-riddled terrain added to the difficulty. Additionally, over half of those killed (about 1,205 men) have no known grave and are commemorated at the Caterpillar Valley Cemetery Memorial

Northern France, along the River Somme.

1 July – 18 November 1916.

NZ troops fought 15 Sept – 4 Oct 1916.

Who was involved

Allies: Britain, France, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, South Africa, India.

Germany .

NZ Division led by Major General Andrew Russell.

Why was it fought

Break German lines.

Help the French at Verdun.

Wear down the German army.

How long and how many

141 days.

3 million Allied soldiers took part.

18,000 New Zealanders involved.

Geography effects:

German trenches on higher ground gave them an advantage.

Open farmland meant little cover.

Autumn rain turned ground to mud, slowing attacks.