The attack opened at dawn, but the company saw little of the actual progress of events until the 9th, when the unit moved into Bunhill Row, in Plœgsteert Wood, and relieved the 10th Field Company, A.E. The company bivouac was shelled and gassed heavily all the first night, casualties being three killed and four wounded. Work was started immediately in the battle area north of the River Douve, and every effort was made to improve the communications through the “Crater Fields” in order to facilitate the advance of the 11th A.I.Bde., which had relieved the 10th A.I.Bde. in this area, and experienced hard fighting in advancing to the “Green Line,” and afterwards holding it. Enemy shelling was heavy, but the unit was fortunate enough to escape with very light casualties. During one heavy burst of shelling, two sections of the company sheltered in the same trench as a company of infantry; the infantry suffered 23 casualties, while the sappers escaped unhurt.
A special feature of the arrangements for the attack was the organisation of a divisional pack train for the transport of ammunition, food, water, and R.E. stores to the newly-captured areas. The company contributed a considerable number of drivers and mules under Lieut. J. M. Norton, to this train.
Pack mules were very successfully used independently by the company a little later for transport to forward jobs. Driver A. A. Paget received the M.M. for good work with the pack train, while 2nd Corpl. C. C. Jones and Lance-Corpl. W. W. Evans were similarly rewarded for devotion to duty with the sappers.
On 12th June the company moved to La Boudrelle, south of Steenwerck, a most delightful place after the battle area, but on the 15th started work on the so-called Black Line, south of the River Douve, in the vicinity of Grey Farm. On the 20th this work was handed over to the New Zealand Engineers, and the company marched on the 21st to Neuve Eglise (camp at Stampkotmolen).
On the 23rd, the Messines sector was taken over from the 25th Division and the company started work with the 11th A.I. Brigade, which was holding the forward system on the whole divisional front from the River Douve to the Blaupoortbeek. A very strenuous time ensued until July 11th, the infantry of the Brigade carrying out a vigorous policy involving pushing the lines forward and an enormous amount of digging, under bad weather conditions, and consistently heavy enemy artillery fire. The sappers, in addition to marking out much of the new trench system and working in the trenches themselves, sank several wells, repaired concrete dugouts, and improvised new shelters, erected signboards, and made reconnaissances and maps. Ferme de la Croix and Pine Avenue, Steignast Farm and Gapaard, will always be remembered in connection with this period, “the 19 days.”
After relief by the 9th Field Company, the company had a few days training at Neuve Eglise, and then marched to La Boudrelle for pontooning on the Lys. While at La Boudrelle a very successful sports meeting was held. The unit then returned to Neuve Eglise and took part in the Windmill battle of July 31st. The preparations for this will be remembered as a rush job at the eleventh hour. It was about this time that night bombing by enemy aircraft first became troublesome.
La Boudrelle was visited for the third time on the 15th, the division being in support, and work was started roofing in the big ammunition dump at La Creche, but before the task could be completed, the unit moved with the division to 2nd Army Training Area, south-west of St. Omer.
Divisional Headquarters was established at Fauquembergues, and the 11th Field Company in the little village of Recquebrœucq on the River Aa.
2. A Share in the 3rd Battle of Ypres.
The visit to the training area was for the purpose of resting, training, and re-fitting, in preparation for more strenuous days to come; and lasted until September 25th. This was a very delightful period, the accommodation for all ranks being good, the country people very kindly, and the weather favourable. Opportunities for training were also good, and the unit was in a very good state when it started marching northward with the division on September 25th, to take part in the Third Battle of Ypres.