A special raiding party was practising and was increased to four Officers (Captain Gregson, and Second Lieutenants Martin, Roscoe, and Walker) and 15 N.C.O.’s and men per company, who were billeted separately in the village and trained. Short rifles and long bayonets were issued to the Battalion on the afternoon of the 19th, and long rifles and short bayonets withdrawn. The same day the Battalion moved up to AGNY to relieve the South Lancashires, the raiding party remaining at BRETENCOURT. Although the enemy shelled and sent over rifle grenades within the next few days, little damage was done and there were no casualties. Here we first met a large trench mortar called “Crashing Christopher”—the “Heavy Minnie” of later days.
The Battalion about to Parade for the Trenches, 1916.
CHAPTER IV.
THE SOMME FIGHTING.
On the 27th of June we were bombarded by all calibres, but sustained no casualties.
On the 28th the raiding party of three Officers and 56 Other Ranks mentioned in the last chapter left our lines at the junction of GAMBLER STREET with the fire trench at 5 35 p.m. The raid was preceded by the discharge of cloud gas and artillery fire.
This party was working in conjunction with raiding parties from all Battalions in the Division. They advanced by two rushes to within a few yards of the enemy trenches, where they came under heavy fire and were held up. At 5 50 p.m. they established communication with our lines and reported that they could get no further and were suffering heavy casualties. A Sergeant returning and reporting that the enemy were in strong force and further progress was impossible, Major Crump ordered them to retire, which they did in good order in spite of losses which included the whole of the leaders.
The wind seemed to be uncertain and blew back the smoke curtain diagonally across the front so as to disclose our party, which was on the right flank of the Division, to the enemy.