and the shells fell short. This not only caused a good many casualties amongst the men who were digging in, but also prevented the attacking force from pushing forward patrols and occupying the best ground for observation. A furious message was sent back by Captain Bailey: ”Our artillery are blowing us out. Please stop it at once,” but whether the messages miscarried or whether the maps were so inaccurate that the orders were not understood, the shelling continued for nearly two hours.
Meanwhile the 2nd and 3rd Battalions Coldstream moved up by the new communication trench to the support line and thence across the open to the first objective, where they remained in support.
When the barrage eventually cleared away it was found that there were practically no Germans in front, although a good many of them could be seen running towards Le Transloy without rifles or equipment, and the enemy were not shelling us at all, no doubt because they had been obliged to move their guns. It seemed to Lieut.-Colonel de Crespigny that some advantage should be taken of this situation, and he sent a message back that it was a splendid opportunity for the cavalry to go through. Lord Cavan, however, decided that the circumstances did not permit of such a move, as the front was too narrow.
Lord Cavan sent the following message to General Pereira:
Hearty thanks and sincere congratulations to you all. A very fine achievement, splendidly executed.
To which General Pereira replied:
Your old Brigade very proud to be able to present you with Lesbœufs. All ranks most gratified by your kind congratulations.
Later this message was received from General Ponsonby, commanding the 2nd Guards Brigade:
G.O.C. and all ranks wish to congratulate the 1st and 3rd Guards Brigades on their splendid success to-day.
The men were in the highest spirits, and that evening they had a quiet time even in the front trench, so quiet that there was no difficulty in getting supplies up. During the night each battalion was ordered to thin out the front line, as there were far too many men in the trench; this order was carried out, but next morning it was found that still further thinning had to be done.