Part 3/12:
The Second Royal Scots Fusiliers, involving 770 men, faced devastating losses, with only 120 returning. Overall, the British command displayed a troubling lack of situational awareness, especially as the frontlines had shifted since early July. The once-effective small-scale attacks no longer succeeded because German defenses had become more organized, with reinforced positions increasingly difficult to observe and target. Persistent bad weather further hampered British air superiority, and artillery wear and tear was reducing accuracy for large barrages.
This deterioration illustrated the grim reality on the Western Front: the initial momentum was waning, and the battlefield was evolving into a more entrenched, deadly stalemate.