After spending the night of August 31st-September 1st in an area just west of Fontaine, the battalion moved forward by Crux Trench at 3.15 p.m. in the order "B," "C," "D," "A." The trench at this point was extremely shallow, and there can be little doubt that the movement of the battalion was observed.
The Capture of Riencourt
2/6th The King's (Liverpool Regiment)
To face Page [210].
The forming-up positions were as follows: The front line companies moved on a line running along the lower part of Terrier Alley, and thence in a northerly direction across to Greyhound Avenue, on the southern edge of Hendecourt, which positions had been captured by the 2/7th K.L.R. in the morning. "D" Company were some 300 yards in rear in Morden Trench; "A" Company were some 1,200 yards farther back.
The orders were that the Hendecourt—Bullecourt road was not to be crossed till 5.15 p.m. Just at this moment as the companies were moving to cross this road an aeroplane came over, flying very low, and immediately afterwards the enemy artillery opened out on Crux Trench and the road with 5·9's and gas shells, causing many casualties to both "B" and "C" Companies, including many N.C.Os. The aeroplane also fired several belts of ammunition at the men as they lined up.
In spite of this bombardment, the companies moved steadily to their appointed positions, and were ready at 6 p.m., and great credit is due for this to their platoon commanders. Just before zero (6.5 p.m.) the barrage of the right Division (52nd) opened, which caused the enemy to drop a protective barrage on our front also. Luckily, this fell about 100 yards in rear of our companies, and no harm was done. At 6.5 p.m. our artillery opened on the barrage line for three minutes, during which period the two leading companies (with two platoons in front and two in support) advanced through the 8th K.L.R. and moved forward with sections in "worms" up to the barrage. This at zero plus three minutes moved forward at the rate of 200 yards in eight minutes, settling down finally for ninety minutes on the German side of our objective, Emu Alley and Wolf Trench, the far side of Riencourt.
The moment the barrage lifted the enemy opened on our forming-up line, shortening from time to time, but so well did our men keep up to our own barrage that the enemy's was always behind us.