Private 266230 James Pressley TOOKEY

Dambre Camp – 1st Oct 1917: The Bn had arrived in camp the previous evening. Day was spent in making final inspections. C.O & 2^nd in Command and two officers from each Coy went up to reconnoitre assembly positions. Weather fine.

Dambre Camp – 2nd Oct 1917: Moved into shelters in Canal Bank near Bridge 2a. Weather fine.

NE of Ypres – 3rd Oct 1917: Battle stores were drawn and issued during the morning. At 6pm head of Battalion passed Bridge 2a and moved up to Mon di Hibou via the trench board track past Alberta. At Hibou guides from 1/1 Bucks Regt met Coys and led them past Flora Cot to assembly positions. No difficultly was experienced during this operation. Four casualties only were suffered. The night was very suitable, a bright moon being overcast with clouds leaving sufficient light to see quite well without making movement visible to the enemy.

The Battalion was in position on a taped line of shell holes, laid out by Capt. Bushill by 12.30 midnight. The positions were as follows:

• D Coy in two lines, two platoons in front and two in reserve near about V.25.c.9.3
• C Coy two platoons in front & two in rear astride Hubner-Quebec Road
• A Coy two hundred yards in rear of D Coy
• B Coy two hundred yards in rear of C Coy
• Bn HQ was established at Hubner

NE of Ypres – 4 Oct 1917: Remainder of the night was quiet. At 5.30am the enemy put down a heavy barrage on and about the Langemarck Line. At 6.00am our barrage came down and the attack commenced  C & D Coys attacking the first objective a line from V.25.g.9.1 to V.2.c.4.1 and including Tweed House.

C Coy on the right experienced great difficultly on account of bad ground, numerous shell holes and very wet. At about D.2.a.7.1 their right was held up by a machine gun. Here Capt. Corall was killed and the Coy sustained many casualties. The left pushed on, 2/Lt Nicholls assuming command of the Coy. The left support Platoon was put out to form a defensive flank and deal with the M.G. holding up the right, after about half an hours fighting the M.G. was captured and the enemy either killed or captured.

The Coy then pushed on again capturing 10 prisoners about V.26.c.9.3. It was difficult to locate their position accurately and the company found they had reached the Cemetery. Finding they were in our own barrage they withdrew to a line V.26.c.4.8 to V.26.c.7.2 which they consolidated.

D Coy on the left advanced well without much opposition at first. They then were held up by a M.G at Tweed House. Both gun and team were captured. The Coy pushed on again to its objective and seized it and consolidated a line from V.26.a.2.2 to V.26.c.3.8 joining with C Coy on the right and the 9^th Lancs Fus on the left. 2/Lt Brant was wounded in this operation.

The remaining two Coys A & B, who were to attack the second objective, kept as well up to the barrage as possible without becoming involved in the fighting for the first objectives. B Coy on the right pushed forward to a line about V.26.b.1.3 along the front edge of the road and far side of the Cemetery, taking a few prisoners. They found that this line could not be held, both flanks were in the air and the protective barrage had settled on the Cemetery. They therefore withdrew to a line V.2.c.9.8 to V.26.d.8.7 linking up with the 6^th Bn R War R on the right at V.26.c.9.3.

A Coy on the left pushed forward close after the barrage captured Terrier Farm and then advanced to a line from V.26.a.9.8 to V.26.g.1.1 meeting with strong enemy resistance at V.26.g.1.3. A party of men attacked this point and captured one Officer and about 50 other ranks. This company also pushed on too far and got into the protective barrage so withdrew to a line V.26.a.7.5 through County Cross Roads to V.26.c.9.5 linking up with the 9^th Lancs Fus on the left and B Coy on the right.

A large enemy party joined up near Gloster House and counter attacked. This was met and completely broken up by our Lewis Gun and rifle fire. Three small counter attacks started from Beek House but they were all dispersed by our fire. Two other attacks started from V.26.a.7.6 were also smashed.

Two Vickers M. Guns were got into position near Tweed House where they could sweep the whole of our fronts. Advanced Bn HQ were established at Tweed House.

NE of Ypres – 5 Oct 1917: Rain fell during the day and the weather became very cold. No enemy attack took place but his shelling was very severe at times. Sniping was active on both sides. The enemy firing continually from Beek House. At night a dry change of socks was got up together with rations.