In early 1916, the division played a minor defensive role during the German attack on Vimy Ridge. The next major action came during the summer of 1916, when the division fought in the Battle of the Somme, in particular the Battles of Delville Wood, Guillemont and Ancre. The division entered the offensive on 26 July, to retake Deville Wood that had been captured and then lost to a German counterattack. In a two-day battle, the division cleared the wood. It fended off several German counterattacks over the following days. On 30 July, the division launched an attack to capture Guillemont and the nearby Falfemont Farm, with mixed results. After five days of fighting, by 31 July, the division had suffered over 3,000 casualties and reported that only one battalion was ready for further offensive operations. The division remained on the line, subject to heavy shelling and trench raids, before it renewed efforts to take Guillemont on 8 August. This effort, alongside the 55th (West Lancashire) Division, lasted through 9 August and failed. The division was relieved and moved to a different sector of the front. It engaged in mutual bombardments and trench raids. In the final engagement of the Somme fighting, the Battle of Ancre that started on 12 November, the division assisted in the Capture of Beaumont-Hamel suffering almost 3,000 casualties. With the conclusion of the Somme offensive, the division was withdrawn from the line for rest and to train.