The enemy left two unwounded prisoners in our hands, two wounded prisoners, and about ten dead were left in our trenches.
Our casualties were:—Second Lieutenant J. A. Firth, killed; Second Lieutenant F. Shippobottom, wounded, died of wounds in hospital; Second Lieutenant R. Hornby, slightly wounded, remained at duty; 11 Other Ranks killed, 21 Other Ranks wounded, 48 Other Ranks missing—many of these being buried in the destruction of the trench.
The following extracts from the War Diary refer to our share in the CAMBRAI attack:—
19th November. The work of reorganisation was completed, and the repairing of the trenches went on. At 1 p.m. orders were received that it was Y day, and the preparation for the attack to be made on Z day started at once. Our artillery and trench mortars completed their wire cutting programme. Enemy shelled our supports with 5.9’s and 4.2’s during the day.
D Company, who were holding CAT POST sector, were ordered to remain there and to push posts into the GILLEMONT sector when the assaulting troops moved forward.
At 2 30 p.m. A Company sent 50 Other Ranks to the 164th Trench Mortar Battery as carrying parties for guns moving forward, and 20 Other Ranks to the 164th Machine Gun Company as carriers to their guns moving forward. Between 11 p.m. and 12 midnight the remainder of A and C Companies, who were holding the GILLEMONT sector, were relieved by the 1/4th Royal Lancaster Regiment, who were to assault the GILLEMONT defences of the enemy in the morning. On relief these Companies proceeded to KEN LANE and were held in Battalion reserve.
B Company, who were in support at DUNCAN and DOLEFUL posts, took up dispositions as follows during the night:—
One Platoon as permanent garrison FLEECEALL POST.
One Platoon as permanent garrison GRAFTON POST.
One Platoon as permanent garrison ISLAND TRAVERSE.
Owing to our losses in Lewis gun personnel, sustained in the raid on the 18th, we were unable to carry out a programme of Lewis gun fire for barrage purposes that had been allotted to us. This was taken over by the 1/5th King’s Liverpool Regiment, with the assistance of two Lewis gunners from the Platoon of B Company in FLEECEALL POST.
The evening and night was very quiet; there was no enemy activity whatever.