Its object was to keep down the enemy and protect the two infantry Tanks. These the while both made for one selected spot in the trench; the left-hand one cast in its fascine, crossed the trench on it, turned to the left and worked down the fire trench; the right-hand Tank crossed the fire trench on the first Tank’s fascine, and made for the second trench, dropped in its fascine, and crossing, worked down this second trench. Meanwhile the advance guard Tank had swung round and crossed over the first and second trenches on the fascines of the two infantry Tanks, and it therefore moved forward with its own fascine still in position for the third line.
The infantry were also divided into three forces and worked in single file. The first force were “Trench Clearers.” They worked with the Tanks, and helped to clear up trenches and dug-outs. They carried small red flags with which they marked the paths which the Tanks had made through the wire. The second were the “Trench Stops,” who, as it were, played the net over the rabbit hole to the Tank’s ferret. The third force were the “Trench Garrisons,” who took over the trenches as they were captured.
One feature of the combined Tank and infantry training for this battle was particularly interesting.
They had not very long to work together, yet it was essential that the infantry should have confidence in the trench-spanning and wire-cutting power of the Tanks.
Infantry units were therefore invited by the Tank Corps to build their own defences and entanglements, the Tanks guaranteeing to cross the trenches and chew up the wire of their best efforts.
Some very formidable and ingenious defences were made.
The Tanks, however, everywhere carried out their guarantee, to the great edification of the infantry.
The following table gives briefly the allocation of Tanks and infantry to the various objectives:
Allocation of Fighting Tanks
| 1st Brigade Battalions. | Tanks (No.) | 3rd Corps Divisions. |
| D (4) | 42 | On Right: 51st. |
| E (5) | 42 | 51st and 62nd. |
| G (7) | 42 | On Left: 62nd. |