Attack on Horseshoe Hill - August 17^th 1916 - Definite orders were received from the Brigade as to the Battalion's advance against Horseshoe Hill. These were altered during the day, but finally we were given to understand that we should meet with no opposition on the hill, and that we would be required merely to occupy it and dig in. For this reason the two companies of the R. Berks who were to have come with us were withdrawn. It was decided to attack with A and B Companies, while C and D would come out lightly equipped, to carry tools, and return before dawn.

August 17th/18th. The enemy had been fighting the French all day in and around Doldzeli, and were apparently unprepared for a night attack. The Battalion, with attached R.E. and Machine-gun Company (Sections, proceeded in two parties to the point of assembly at the south end of Pillar Hill, one party going each side of Castle Hill. Time was lost through a scare due to French transport returning from their front line being mistaken for the enemy, and also through clumsy loading of the mules of the troops attached to us.

The first stage of the assault was, therefore, delayed from 10.30 p.m. to 11.15p.m., which was most unfortunate, as the moon was now well up. Telephone communication with Brigade H.Q. was successfully established. A French officer from our right assured us that we would encounter no opposition, but no sooner had 2nd Lieut. Hoey's platoon reached the higher slopes of C.3 than he was fired upon from the direction of the boundary mark on the east arm of the Shoe. Lieut. Bowman and his platoon, with a Lewis-gun (under Corporal Hudson), were sent to assist him. The enemy (an advanced post) was driven out, but not before it had knocked out Bowman and about 15 men from the two platoons.

Major Debenham now went forward, and, finding that we were out of touch with the French on our right, went off to remedy this. On the way he and a Bulgar scout stalked each other until Debenham bagged him with the first shot from his revolver. Unfortunately he had had to send his runner to H.Q. with a message, for shortly afterwards he (Debenham) was blown up and partially buried by a big shell, and he was only just able to struggle back to H.Q. before collapsing.

Heavy shelling had now opened up all along the French line. We had reports of a French withdrawal, but a message from 2nd Lieut. Garland, who was liaison officer with the French, denied this. Meanwhile Manning was heavily fired on as he approached C.I, but he soon made good his objective, where shortly afterwards he was joined by two more platoons of A Company under 2nd Lieuts. Collier and Ker.

The remainder of B Company under Captain Simpson now joined Hoey, whose force was considerably depleted. Simpson was hit at the telephone almost as soon as he arrived, and Eagle also was hit soon afterwards. All telephone wires were cut almost as fast as they were laid, and had it not been for the really fine work of the runners, it would have been impossible to arrange for a simultaneous attack on C.2 from both C.3 and C.I after an intense bombardment of C.2 from 1.15 to 1.30a.m. Symonds, who had been sent up to fill the gap between our right and the French, reached B Company, and found them so much in need of assistance that, on reference to Battalion H.Q., he was ordered to support Hoey, who was now the only officer left with B Company.

As soon as our artillery lifted from C.2 Hoey and Symonds moved forward with B Company and No. 14 Platoon, but were met by heavy rifle and grenade fire. Part of the line was checked, and Symonds was wounded. Corporal Hudson, who was immediately behind, rushed through the broken line and, with great gallantry, fired his Lewis-gun from his hip. This enabled Hoey to push on, and C.2, the toe and dominating point of the whole shoe, was captured without much further trouble.

Meanwhile Ker and Manning had swept up and round from C.1 and met Hoey's force on the top of C.2. Manning was at once sent out with a covering party. Martin, with Keeble, Steele, and about 30 men of C Company, arrived a few minutes later, after a difficult advance through a heavy barrage and up the steep slopes of C.2 between the two arms of the shoe. Arnett, with the remainder of A Company, arrived about the same time.

Martin now was faced with the problem of reorganization and consolidation with only about an hour before dawn. Most oppor­tunely, however, Boor and No. 15 Platoon arrived from H.Q. with tools and sandbags, and so work was at once begun on adapting the Bulgar trench which almost completely encircled the top of the Hill C.2. Hoey and B Company were sent back to Battalion H.Q., "fifteen minutes away.

A Company held C.3 and C.1 with two platoons, the other two, together with two platoons of D Company and part of C Company, forming the garrison of C.2 and local reserve. Providentially there was a natural terrace about 70 yards down the steep southern slope of C.2, and slits dug into the bank of the terrace gave valuable cover from the steady fall of shrapnel which was kept up more or less continuously for the next three days.

It was soon found that the Bulgar trench was cut in solid rock, and as it was only about three feet deep, Martin decided to concentrate on a main line of trench on the reverse slope of C.2. A day post (1 officer and 3 men) was left in the trench on the north slope, where they spent a miserable time lying prone among the rocks in the blistering heat, with the constant expectation of being blown out at any moment.

Next day Wrinch, who was acting as artillery liaison officer, was mortally wounded here. We could not get him in, and Mansell very nobly came and remained with him for three hours, until he died.

Symonds, who had returned to C.2 after having his hand dressed, and Boor did most useful work in the day post, and the presence of their two platoons gave Martin a confidence which otherwise he would not have had.

August 18^th 1916: Was spent, not very successfully, in trying to get a little rest, in anticipation of the coming night. At dusk Sergeant-Major Merritt brought up the remainder of C Company to C.2, while Salvesen, with his other two platoons, arrived about 1 a.m. and escaped the enemy's barrage by a minute.

They brought up for the men hot stew, which was much appreciated, although, after its three-mile journey, it arrived quite cold. A certain amount of water was also brought—about sufficient to rinse the dust from one's mouth and throat.

Two sections R.E. ran out some concertina wire, while the garrison improved the trenches, and Miller got through a lot of useful work co-ordinating our Lewis-guns and the 4 machine-guns of the 78th Machine-gun Company. Being in touch with the French on our right, we now felt more happy about our flanks.

Baker, with a small party of A Company, formed a post on Whaleback, a long spur running south-west from Horseshoe, and he remained on this very unpleasant job for three nights.