Report on Operations 6.40am to Noon

6.40am 29th July: From 6-40am onwards commenced the second phase of the advance from the Green Line to the Brown Line, the Brown Line being a line running roughly east to west along the Ridge and through Point 205 (1/2 mile north of Beugneux). The position gave the enemy command of the whole of the valley looking south to Paris (G.M.P.) Line. The Green Line was gained at 5-20am, A & C Coys 2nd L.N. Lan. Regt holding line of the Sunken Road running NW and SE from Point 150. Casualties had been few and a few prisoners had been sent back. B & D Coys and Battalion HQ, 2nd L.N. Lan. Regt had not yet gained touch, and apparently went off to our left to supports the Queens. A & C Coys supported the 4th Sussex.

The 25th French Division left a gap between the left Divisional Boundary and Grand Rozoy. B & D Coys and Battalion HQ, 2nd L.N. Lan. Regt encountered considerable opposition at 5.3am at the west end of the wood 300 yards east of Grand Rozoy and were also enfiladed from Grand Rozoy village. A&D Coys under OC 2nd L.N. Lan. Regt would therefore appear to have advanced over the Green Line about an hour before the appointed time.

At 6.30am the advanced Coys of the Sussex walked into our barrage although it was not timed to cease until 6-40 and were seen to retire from Beugneux Wood to the Green Line.

At 6.45am several enemy aeroplanes flew over and a large amout of S.A.A. was expended by Lewis Gunners without effect. The S.A.A. would have been usefully employed later on.

At about 7.0am the whole of the wood S of the Beugneux-Grand Rozoy Road had been cleared of the enemy but considerable opposition from the Machine Gun nests had been met with in part of the wood just north of this road.  By disregarding the enemy oppostion in the thickest part of the wood crossing the wood at its narrowist point 200 yards NW of the B in Beugneux A Coy followed by C Coy were able to push through to point 18.9 and gaining that spur with the loss of 20 casualties by enfiladed fire from Beugneux Village. C Coy of 2nd L.N.Lan. Regt soon after came up and supported the left of A Coy 2nd L.N.Lan. Regt. Owing to Hill 205 being covered with crops and to the increase in casualties, liason with the flanks was not obtained.

At 7.40am Point 189 was gained by A Coy 2nd L.N.Lan. Regt and shallow trenches were immediated dug in the fold of the ground immediately NW of point 189. The enemy were soon noticed massing at Point 205 but their counter-attack was made across our front in the direction of Point 172. The enemy succeeded in preventing the 2/4th Queens on our left getting in touch with us at Point 189. We were able to inflict heavy casualties on the enemy by enfilade fire. Enemy aeroplanes had complete mastery and all our Very Light Signals to our own artillery to lengthen the range had been fired before 8am, apparently no F.O.O. was in a position to observe at that hour. The only means of communication was by runner. They had to go back 3 Kilos to Advanced Brigade Report Centre.

The enemy heavily shelled the wood E of Grand Rozoy inflicting heavy loss on us. Lieut Col C.E.A. Jourdain DSO was killed at 8.30am and Captain G.P. Atkinson MC took command at 10-40am.

At about 9.30am 2 platoons of K.O.S.B's under 2/Lt Carmichael and 2/Lt Robertson (who was killed about midday) from 103 Brigade arrived and reinforced A Coy 2nd L.N.Lan. Regt at Point 189. Reports were being continually being received that 103 Brigade on our right and our own Brigade in our left were pulling back.

At 10.15am our position on Point 189 was being threatened on both flanks by the enemy who had brought up several machine guns. Messages for assistance had no responce owing to nearly all Battn HQ officers being rendered casualties. A verbal message to the effect that Lieut Col Jourdain had been killed caused Capt G.P. Atkinson to go back and make enquiries and learn the situation and dispositions of the remainder of 2nd L.N.Lan. Regt Coys.

The remainder of the Battn HQ 2nd L.N.Lan. Regt under the RSM with 120 A&S Highlanders under a 2Lt were found on the edge of the wood immediately east of Point 195 and were brought up to consolidate the Northern Edge of Beugneux Wood in the event of the enemy regaining Point 189. None of the remained of the 2nd L.N.Lan. Regt could be found. While consolidation was in progress at 12 noon OC A Coy informed me that he had partially vacated our position on the spur on Point 189 owing to the continual shelling of our own artillery and he had left Lewis Gun posts in shell holes until such time as he could reoccupy the position more strongly.