A number of officers joined us at Barly—2nd-Lieutenant Alty, D.C.M., and 2nd-Lieutenant Shirt on the 18th, 2nd-Lieutenant Hardy on the 21st, 2nd-Lieutenant D. R. Williams on the 22nd, and Lieutenant Kissan on September 23rd. As against this, more than one officer was now suffering from dysentery brought on by shell gas, and Lieutenant Penrice, Captain Robinson, and 2nd-Lieutenant Lever had to be evacuated.
Captain Robinson in particular was a great loss. His command of men was truly remarkable. Forceful and brave in the extreme, he had at Riencourt the opportunity to show the stuff he was made of, and proved himself a fine officer. Lieutenant Kissan took over command of "B" Company.
On September 25th we learnt that our rest was over and that work was before us once more. At 8.40 a.m. on September 26th we entrained at Saulty and proceeded to Vaux Vraucourt, which was reached at 3 p.m. A march took us thence to our concentration area near Quéant, which we reached at 5 p.m. At 2.50 a.m. on September 27th the battalion moved forward from the concentration area to the first assembly position, which was in the Hindenburg front line about 500 yards south-west of Pronville. This was reached at 4.30 a.m. At zero (5.20 a.m.) the battalion moved forward to the second assembly position, which was about 600 yards west of Mœuvres, arriving there at 12.30 p.m.
The battalion now opened up into artillery formation and advanced across the Canal du Nord, through an arm of the Hindenburg Support Line, and on to some high ground about a mile east of Mœuvres. Here we settled down and waited for the attack to develop.
The scheme of operations was on a large scale. The 52nd and 63rd Divisions were to capture the first objective (Red Line), which ran north and south just beyond the main system of the Hindenburg Support Line; and then the second objective (Brown Line), which ran through Anneux Chapel round Anneux to east of Graincourt. After this, the 171st and 172nd Brigades of the 57th Division were to pass through and capture the third objective (Blue Line), which ran round the east side of Fontaine, west of La Folie and east of Cantaing. The 170th Brigade were then to seize the crossings of the Canal de L'Escaut if not already taken, and carry the attack farther. The Canadians on the left and the Guards on the right were continuing the line of attack north and south with the same relative objectives. The 6th Dragoon Guards and Corps cyclists were in reserve; and orders were issued to make a swift advance possible if the conditions should prove favourable. In consequence of these movements, the accumulation of troops behind the front line was very considerable. The country was similar to what had been covered in the previous attacks, though perhaps some of the rolling slopes were bolder and the sunken roads deeper.
Everywhere you looked were groups of men dotted about, and the enemy proceeded to shell vigorously, as the force opposite his front was only too conspicuous. At about 1.30 p.m. a message was received from the 8th K.L.R. that the Sugar Factory beyond the Red Line on the Cambrai—Bapaume road had not been captured, and that in consequence the attack of the 57th Division could not take place.