US WWI soldiers filmed ahead of the Battle of the Somme

US WWI soldiers filmed ahead of the Battle of the Somme

Historic footage has come to light showing American troops of the 27th Infantry Division preparing for battles in France during World War One.

The 27th Infantry, formed in 1917, was one of only three American divisions from New York and had over 27,000 enlisted men. They sustained 8,209 casualties during WWI.

Video clips show officers arriving at a vast base located in the valley of the River Somme, in France, host to the Battle of the Somme, which took place just before the men arrived.

The 27th Infantry was one of only three American divisions formed from New York and had over 27,000 enlisted men. They sustained 8,209 casualties during WWI

Historic video clips show officers arriving at a vast base located in the valley of the River Somme, in France, host to the Battle of the Somme

The 27th Division was called into service on July 15, 1917 and moved to Camp Wandsworth, near Spartanburg, South Carolina, in August for intensive training before heading to France for battle

In Spring 1918, the division moved toward embarkation camps. Its advance detachment left Hoboken, New Jersey, on May 2 and arrived in Brest, France, a week later. In late June, the rest of the division joined them

Three million men fought in the Battle of the Somme, making it one of the bloodiest battles in history.

The American soldiers of the 27th Division arrived in France after the first Battle of the Somme, however, and helped carry out a series of offensives in the Somme region in 1918. 

Soldiers at a training base in Corbie, France, are shown in the footage going through marching drills. 

They can also be seen taking part in sporting activities such as boxing and sprinting, which helped boost the morale of the men who had flown half-way across the world to fight. 

The 27 I nfantry Division's insignia was designed to reflect this with the letters 'NYD', standing for 'New York Division', forming a monogram within a large 'O' after their commander John F O'Ryan. 

Soldiers at a training base in Corbie, France, are shown in the footage going through marching drills. They can also be seen taking part in sporting activities such as boxing and sprinting, which helped boost the morale of the men who had flown half-way across the world to fight

When they weren't boxing and sprinting through July 1919, the group trained with British mentors France, and toward the end of summer the division moved toward Somme

The 27 Infantry Division's insignia was designed to reflect this with the letters 'NYD', standing for 'New York Division', forming a monogram within a large 'O' after their commander John F O'Ryan

The troops, also known as O'Ryan's Roughnecks, saw plenty of action on the battlefield during the First World War, fighting at the Battle of Dickesbusche Lake and the Battle of Vierstratt Ridge

O'Ryan (pictured above) can be seen in the footage overseeing a boxing tournament in the company of other generals

O'Ryan can be seen in the footage overseeing a boxing tournament in the company of other generals.

The 27th Division was called into service on July 15, 1917 and moved to Camp Wandsworth, near Spartanburg, South Carolina, in August for intensive training. 

In Spring 1918, the division moved toward embarkation camps. 

Its advance detachment left Hoboken, New Jersey, on May 2, 1918, and arrived in Brest, France, a week later.

In late June of the same year, the rest of the division joined them in Europe.  

The troops, also known as O'Ryan's Roughnecks, saw plenty of action on the battlefield during the First World War and took part in the Second Battle of the Somme

The great Somme 'push', which lasted from September 24, 1918, to October 1, 1918, saw the division engage in severe fighting along the Saint Quentin Canal Tunnel

Following heavy losses, the division was placed on reserve for rest. Six days later, however, the group was back in action and moved toward Busingny

The 27th Division worked with British forces and the 30th Division to break open the Hindenburg Line, a key German defensive position. Upon cracking the Hindenburg line open, the Germans retreated from their final position and were forced into a final confontation with the group

In all, the 27th Infiltry division saw 6,533 battle casualties. Of the 6,533, 1,512 were killed in action, 4,980 were wounded, 40 were missing in action and one became a prisoner of war

The troops, also known as O'Ryan's Roughnecks, saw plenty of action on the battlefield during the First World War, fighting at the Battle of Dickesbusche Lake and the Battle of Vierstratt Ridge.

In September 1918, they fought int he Somme offensive, , a series of successfile counter-offensives in response to German fighting.

Significantly, they were successful in breaking the Hindenburg line during the Somme offensive, forcing a German retreat which lead to a successful final confrontation for the Allied forces at Selle River.

Upon the success of this final mission, surviving members of the division were sent home in February 1919.< /p>

In all, the 27th Infantry Division saw 7, 837, battle casualties. Of the casualties, 1,795 were killed and 6,414 were wounded. 

WORLD WAR ONE'S BATTLE OF THE SOMME: ONE OF THE BLOODIEST FIGHTS IN HISTORY 

Lasting 141 days, the Battle of the Somme was the bloodiest battle of the First World War. Around 420,000 British soldiers, 200,000 Frenchmen and 500,000 Germans were killed in the battle.

The British and French joined forces to fight the Germans on a 15-mile-long front, with more than a million-people killed or injured on both sides.

The Battle started on the July 1, 1916, and lasted until November 19, 1916. The British managed to advance seven-miles but failed to break the German defence.

On the first day alone, 19,240 British soldiers were killed after 'going over the top' and more than 38,000 were wounded.

But on the last day of the battle, the 51st Highland Division took Beaumont Hamel and captured 7,000 German prisoners.

The plan was for a 'Big Push' to relieve the French forces, who were besieged further south at Verdun, and break through German lines.

Although it did take pressure off Verdun it failed to provide a breakthrough and the war dragged on for another two years.

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