Taking of Ojective 1

In accordance with 33^rd Brigade Order no 35 and addenda to same, which latter were received at 8.10am. The three assaulting Coys moved off by whistle signal at Zero 12.35pm and moving forward occupied the first objective. A message was received at Bn HQ by runner from O.C. A Coy sent off at 12.48pm that first objective had been taken. O.C. B Coy also reported to same effect. The O.C. D coy was wounded and no message was received from this Coy but it was observed to be in its objective.

During this advance the Right Coy (B) pressed too close into the barrage and small parties had to come a short way back and casualties occurred through this. Captures during there advance were: 2 machine guns (these continued firing up to the last moment and the teams were killed to a man by D Coy). 1 trench mortar, 95 Prisoners also another Machine Gun at R.32.b.76.

Taking of Ojective 2

At 12.59pm the assaulting Coys again moved forward towards Zollern Trench, the 2^nd Objective, and a specially chosen bombing party under 2/Lt J.R. Crawford went forward to clear Midway Line R.27.c.54 to R.25.b.86. Companies again pressed forward into the barrage and there were again casualties on this account. The OC A Coy in a report sent off at 1.45pm stated that his Coy was in Zollern Trench, that the trench was in good condition and that he wanted more officers, both his subalterns having been wounded. B Coy reported time 1.17pm that his Coy was in 2^nd Objective. No report of D Coy.

As soon as the assaulting Coys left the first objective C Coy which had moved up Constance trench, went forward in four waves and occupied the first objective, two platoons 7^th S. Stafford Regt, taking the place of C Coy. Seeing that the assaulting Coys had suffered many casualties, at 1.7pm the OC C Coy was directed to reinforce with two platoons, this he did.

Captures in Zollern trench amounted as far as can ascertained to close on 200 prisoners, one machine gun at R.26.a.13 and 2 machine guns at R.26.b.35.

The special bombing party mentioned above worked from R.27.c.54 up trench to R.27.c.57 thence along Midway Line. The Officer in charge, 2 Lt J.R. Crawford, since died of wounds, reported many dug-outs full of the enemy who refused to come out; these dug-outs were bombed. Shortly after it was known that Zollern Trench was occupied, orders given  to run out a line, in order that Bn HQ might move there as soon as the third objective was taken. Zollern not being in sight of Point 70 Constance Trench, the actual advance of the two assaulting Coys could not be seen, but from information received it started too soon by 3 or 4 minutes.

Taking of Ojective 3

In a message time 2.38pm O.C. A Coy wrote from Zollern Trench saying that B & D Coys had gone forward to attack Hessian, also part of C Coy and asks for reinforcements as he is too weak to hold Zollern along the whole length, the message further states that many prisoners had come back to Zollern from Hessian. The same Officer reported later that 3^rd Objective had been taken, that OC B Coy had asked for reinforcement and that he was moving up A Coy to Hessian and would leave flying patrols in Zollern.

A message also received from OC B Coy that 3^rd objective was taken and reinforcements urgently needed, and that there was no one up on our left. No Report from D Coy. Captured in Hessian: 1 Officer and 45 other ranks. A message sent o 7^th S. Staffords about 3pm asking for reinforcements to be sent up to Zollern trench, exact time of message cannot be read as carbon copy is indistinct.

Battalion HQ  moved forward towards Zollern about 2.45pm following the cable which it was hoped would have by then reached that place. On arriving about R.26.d.46 the signalers were found at a standstill having run short of wire, at the same time a runner brought a report that the Medical Officer was wounded, the whole party then came under M.G. fire from Stuff Redoubt and several casualties occurred. The BN HQ was then withdrawn to Constance to give the signalers more time to get into Zollern and to get once more into Communication with Bde HQ.

At 3.25pm a message was sent to Bde that all Coys of the Battn had moved into Hessian and that a Coy of the 7^th S Staffords was being sent to reinforce Zollern.

Consolidation

About 4.50pm  no communication with wire having been obtained with Zollern, Bn HQ again went up and found the signallers still short of wire. Bn HQ moved into Zollern and more wire coming up shortly communication to the rear was established.

Reports received from Capt. R.H. Gregory in Hessian asking for S.S.A bombs and reinforcements – two platoons of 7^th S. Staffs R were sent up and S.A.A and bombs got up later. Just before dark a party of about 50 men was observed to be coming back into Zollern from Hessian, on enquiry they were found to be a Coy of the Suffolk Regt who had been lying in a shallow trench in front of Hessian and had returned as soon as it got dark.

During the night the enemy was very active in sniping and collected in some numbers in the right end of Hessian. The night passed without further incident and ammunition, bombs, flares and water were sent up to Hessian by Midway Line which was in a very bad condition.