Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Mametz Wood was the objective of the 38th (Welsh) Division during the First Battle of the Somme. The attack occurred in a Northerly direction over a ridge, focussed on the German positions in the wood between 7 July and 12 July 1916. The attack of the 7 July failed to reach the wood before the men were halted by machine gun fire. Further attacks by the 17th Division on 8 July failed to improve the position.Infuriated by what he saw as a distinct lack of 'push' Sir Douglas Haig and Henry Rawlinson visited the HQ of the Welsh Division to make their displeasure known. Major General Ivor Philipps, officer commanding the Welsh Division, was subsequently relieved of his command.