Trenches - 30-7-16 - Sunday: During the night of 29th/30th a patrol went out to ascertain the amount of wire the enemy had in front of his line. The patrol returned safely and reported that the wire was well cut.

 

Zero hour was fixed for 6.10pm and there was to be an intense bombardment for one minute at 6:09pm as a matter of fact there was heavy shelling by both sides for quite one hour before the assault which rather upset things.

 

At one minute to zero the Coys, who were now all in the front line, crept out under the barrage, B&C making the first line A&D Coys the 2nd line. A, B and C Coys reached their objectives D Coy were stopped halfway by heavy M.G. Fire and lack of officers (casualties). Nevertheless they were led up into the line later.

Meanwhile urgent messages came down to Batt HQ for reinforcements and more munitions. The H.Q Coy was then sent out to support and the Coys began consolidating. About 20 prisoners were taken and a machine gun, the majority of the prisoners being killed by their own shell fire together with their escort on the way back.

The S.W. Borderers then went up and the communication trench was dug back to our original line. The Batt got into touch with the Kings Own Regt on the right but had no one on our left as the 10th Worcesters had failed. We were in fact the only Batt in the Bde who had gained their objectives. The shelling all through was very severe. END

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