15 Sep 1916 - 6.20am to 3.45pm

Mametz Wood – 15 Sep 1916: Zero for attack is 6.20am – 47^th Division is attacking High Wood, 141^st Bde on left, 140^th Bde on right. 50^th Division on left & New Zealand on right of 47^th Division.

Tanks or Landcruisers are employed for the first time. These were not altogether successful on our part of the line, both getting stuck in High Wood.

6.20am: Battalion (Bn) moves to Memetz Wood.

7.30am: Bn in position at Memetz Wood, dumped Greatcoats.

1.07pm: Received orders to move to Mill Street, Bn has been placed at disposal of 141 Bde. 21^st Bn at disposal of 141 Bde. Lt Col Carr reports to 141 Bde for orders.

2.30pm: Bn in Mill Street

3.45pm: Lt. Col Carr returns with orders that Bn is to attack and take 2^nd Objective and if possible 3^rd Objective of 141 Bde. Bde have informed him that:
(1) 141 Bde has been used to in taking 1^st Objective
(2) that 50^th Division had taken its 3^rd objective
(3) that 21^st Bn would be attacking on right of us, both attacks being separate.

Lt Col Carr had endeavoured to synchronise our attack with that of 21^st Bn but could not as two different Brigades were involved.

The C.O had also been informed that probably no Germans would be encountered in our advance. Events proved that:
(1) 50^th Division had only taken 1^st Objective
(2) the ground was held by enemy strong points

15 Sep 1916 - 4.40pm to 11pm

4.40pm: Bn advanced in artillery formation from Mill Street to form up upon line of 1^st Objective. Capt Figg DSO detailed to give order to advance as soon as Bn should be in position, disposition D.A.B.C from right to left. Bn HQ has to remain in trench adjoining, which was heavily shelled throughout the operations.

7.05pm: No news received that attack had started. Visited assembly lune and found C & B Coys waiting for orders from Capt Figg to advance troops of 50^th Divn seen advancing on left, proved to be D.C.L.I going to attack 2^nd objective.

7.30pm: Ordered C & B Coys to start at once joining up with 50^th Divn advance. A & D Coys which had apparently gone on some 100 yards, were picked up on the way.

Reports of enemy massing for counter attack were received from artillery, just as the advance started. Ordered Capt Wheater and 2/Lt Longley, if this were so to meet them half way and disperse them.

7.45pm: Message received that Corps Commander ordered an advance to 3^rd objective.

9.40pm: 2/Lt Longley reports back to Bn HQ that Bn had advanced some 800 yards or more and had found that both flanks were in the air & that they had been enfiladed from the left by heavy M.G. fire and had been compelled to fall back and dig in some 200 yards in front of first objective. Ordered him to consolidate there and endeavour to get in touch with troops on the flanks, and clear an old C. T. back to 1^st objective.

10pm: Reported situation to 141 Bde.

10.20pm: Patrol sent out by Lt. Baseden reports that our Bn are in touch with 50^th Bn on their left. Both were digging in on line shown on sketch - - - - - - -. Reported this to 141 Bde.

11pm: The heavy shelling which had been in progress throughout operations, began to subside, but continued intermittently throughout the night.

16 Sep 1916 to 12.15pm

Mametz Wood – 16 Sep 1916: 12.30am: received report through 22^nd Bn from 2/Lt Shields who had been wounded. D Coy had apparently lost touch with rest of Bn and only 14 men of this Company were present.

5.45am: C.O. visits line – reports it well consolidated.

7.30am: Received order from Bde that 22^nd & 23^rd Bns were going to attack 2^nd & 3^rd objectives, nothing was seen or heard of these attacks.

11.30am: Cpt Figg reports 265 OR available for duty

12.15pm: Cpt Figg reports officers wounded: Wheater, Clark, Shields, Van Dyk & Bushell, missing Brock & Livermore.