9th April 1917
April 9th – 1.30am: The Battalion was reported complete in the Assembly position by 1:30 a.m. on Apr. 9th. The time between this and 5:00 a.m. was spent in checking the men's equipment, serving hot meal, rum etc.
5.30am: Zero hour was 5:30 a.m. The enemy placed a feeble barrage on Elbe Trench and between that and Rocade but no hit was made on any of our Assembly trenches, although one man was slightly wounded by shrapnel.
7.30am: The Battalion advanced in the following order, A, C, B, D, Details. Not the slightest difficulty was experienced in finding the bridges, and troops were up to the tapes on time. The companies crossed successively over the bridges, and found that as one company was moving up to the tapes the one in front was getting all platoons located at the same time.
No Man’s Land was crossed between the Claudet Group and the Paris Group of craters, as this seemed to present the widest piece of clear ground. The units found no difficulty whatever in advancing against the German trenches, and deployed in front of them. West of the Switch Line Stellung opposition was encountered from a strong point, but this was rushed with bomb and bayonet, and after they reached it, it was put out of action. On the whole the Battalion met with very little opposition, four counter-attacks were directed against us, and the artillery formation which was adopted appears to have been most successful in enabling the Companies to penetrate the enemy’s barrage.
The Battalion deployed with A & C Companies in front line (A on left) each on a two platoon frontage and B & D Companies in rear (B on left) on similar frontage. The two rear Companies remained in Artillery formation at this point. Advanced Battalion Headquarters was established 100 yards in rear of “B” Co’y. I was following some distance further behind with the H.Q. party with the Acting Adjutant, Lieut. GREGORY, and the Liaison Officer of the 27th. Battalion. Lt. MINGAYTON was killed by the same shell, and others of the party wounded. This caused some delay and difficulty in maintaining communication.
While the battalion was advancing to the position of deployment the AID POST was moved forward to ESSAR TRENCH, and remained there until about noon.
9.55am: At 9.55 a.m. the barrage lifted off the left and at 10.05 a.m. off the right, of the Battalion frontage, and the advance to the BLUE objective was begun. The Battalion was played over the BLUE LINE by the pipes of the 16th. Battalion who had captured that objective. The advance progressed steadily, following so closely on the barrage that a number of the enemy surrendered without resistance. Others, who attempted to man their M.G. posts, were effectively dealt with. The Machine Gun fire from the direction of BOIS-en-HACHE was not very effective, and there was no difficulty in continuing the advance.
The objective was reached at 10.10 a.m. and the line was established through CRUCIFIX – ROCHECOURT road. Enemy remained about 75 yards in front of our line in MARENGO CRATERS, and continued to offer some resistance. The Battalion consolidated the BLUE objective under cover of our barrage which was timed to dwell on the line for 60 minutes. Our Stokes Guns were in position to fire on BOIS CARRE, and captured enemy Guns were used against the enemy there. The Battalion was entirely successful in its advance and about BOIS CARRE which was dispersed by the Gun fire.
12.26pm: At this time the barrage moved forward towards the BROWN objective and was followed immediately by B & D Companies. Owing to the conditions it was seen that resistance forward was very strong and our advance was held up. 2 of our Stokes Mortars were brought into action, and some captured 77 mm. guns were employed in firing on the protesting enemy. 52 prisoners were captured in BOIS CARRE which was mopped up by “B” Coy.
12.50pm: The advance continued steadily to the Westerly line of German wire. This was found not to be well cut and lanes were cut by Lieutenants HARRISON, SALISBURY and Sgt. CROUCH, covered by fire from the Colt Guns.
12.58pm to 1.20pm: The barrage continued on the 2nd. line of German Wire. A party of Germans were seen at about B.7.d.7.8.½. and were dispersed by the fire of our Colt Guns, two being taken prisoners. Lieutenants HARRISON and SALISBURY passed through our barrage and entered a German Battery position about B.8.a.3.0. They found this deserted and wrote the name of the Battalion on the guns with pieces of chalk, afterwards returning through our barrage to the Westerly line of wire.
1.30pm: While waiting for the barrage to lift so that the men could be brought forward Lieut. SALISBURY observed German transport moving on the WILLERVAL-VIMY road. Lt. HARRISON immediately turned his Colt Guns on this, the enemy being taken accurately by the range-taker, Pte. PRETTY, who handled his instrument with great coolness. This evidently caused the enemy casualties, as some time later a party was seen moving wagons and dead horses off the road. Parties of Artillerymen retiring from battery positions were also fired on.
2pm: At this time our barrage lifted and the outpost platoons were able to enter FARBUS WOOD. The battery position was re-occupied, some Germans who had concealed themselves in the dugouts there being killed or taken prisoner and patrols pushed forward beyond the eastern edge of FARBUS WOOD, nothing being seen of the enemy as far as the railway.
The German retirement from this battery position was so hasty that the officers' lunch was left ready on the table in their dugout. It was of course promptly consumed.
4pm: By this time the outpost line was well established. Lewis Guns being in position and patrols out. Touch had been obtained with 27th Battalion on left & 3rd Bn. on right. I reconnoitred the main line of resistance personally with the Engineer Officer, Lt. TETT, and found it necessary to site the East of the Westerly line of wire for some distance, so as to command the crest of the hill. The remainder of the Battalion except the outposts were now digging in on this, but we were unable to put a party to work on the right owing to machine gun enfilade fire which appeared to come from a point beyond the 3rd Bn. front.
There was now no enemy rifle fire, but there was irregular shelling over the whole area, the enemy having observation wherever the crest.
The regimental aid post had been moved meantime to A.11.c.5.1 and after remaining there a short time it was established at 3.30pm in a dug-out at the NW corner of BOIS CARRE, where it remained till the Battalion was relieved from the area altogether.
Battalion headquarters was established in another dugout about North East corner of BOIS CARRE.
5.30 – 8.00pm: During this time I was forward about B.7.b.8.1. observing the movements of the enemy in the plain below. He was moving in extended order on both sides of the village of WILLERVAL, and parties were also observed approaching that village from ARLEUX & OPPY. He appeared to be endeavouring to organise a counter attack, but he also appeared to be thoroughly demoralized, and the fire of our artillery prevented anything developing. After 8.00 p.m. it was too dark for visual observations, and the enemy managed to establish himself on eastern side of Railway in a previously dug trench.
