18th September (X day). Day spent in fitting out, etc. On the evening of this day the Battalion moved forward to the Congreve Walk—Liverpool Trench line, running through the village of St. Jean. Our artillery were very active throughout the night.
Two Other Ranks wounded. One Other Rank died of wounds.
ST. JEAN (TRENCHES).
19th September. Commencing at dawn, our artillery opened the 24 hours’ bombardment preparatory to the attack. The enemy’s reply during the day was exceedingly feeble.
Commencing 9 30 p.m., the Battalion moved off from ST. JEAN by Platoons at 200 yards’ distance, via the WIELTJE—GRAVENSTAFEL road. The night was quiet, and there was practically no hostile shelling.
Battalion Headquarters were established at CAPRICORN KEEP (C 18 d 55 65) at 11 p.m. The KEEP consisted of six very strong dugouts of reinforced concrete. Three were taken over as headquarters by this unit and three by the 1/4th Royal Lancaster Regiment.
Casualties:—Two Other Ranks killed; three Other Ranks wounded.
20th September. The Battalion was reported in position of assembly at 1 a.m. The lines to be taken up by the various waves were marked by tape, which had been laid as soon as darkness permitted. When once in position the assaulting troops lay in shell holes until ZERO hour. A continuous drizzling rain made the ground sticky and the going bad. The line of assembly was a north—south line running through SOMME (D 13 c 50 25). During the night things were fairly quiet, though lively artillery fire developed on our right soon after 3 a.m.
ZERO hour was at 5 40 a.m., at which time the artillery barrage opened.