On the first day of the Battle of the Somme, the Bantams were in reserve. They remained in reserve until 3rd July when they entrained at Chocques station for Bouquemaison and marched to Sus St. Ledger. They remained here until 7th July 1916. From here they marched to Beauval, transferring from the First Army to the Fourth Army where they were posted to the VIII Corps.
On 10th July the Battalion marched to Bus les Artois and camped for the night. The following day they marched to Warloy Baillon before marching on to Heilly and again camping for the night. On 12th July the men marched to Bois Celestines, rested for three hours and marched by night to bivouac at Grovetown North of Bray. On 13th July more marching took the men to Billon Wood where they bivouacked until 16th July. Attached to 54th Brigade, the men marched at 8.40pm to take up the line at Trones Wood at 5.20am. This is recorded as a very trying march in heavy rain through very wet communication trenches carrying heavy loads.
