That afternoon there was a conference of Commanding Officers, when General Corkran explained the dispositions for the impending attack. The 1st and 2nd Guards Brigades were to attack on the 15th, while the 3rd Guards Brigade would be in reserve. The orders issued by Brigadier-General Corkran are given below.
3rd Guards Brigade
Operation Order, No. 59
1. The Fourth Army will attack the enemy’s defences between Combles Ravine and Martinpuich on the 15th September, with the object of seizing Morval, Lesbœufs, Gueudecourt, and Flers, and breaking through the enemy’s system of defence.
The French are attacking simultaneously on the south and the Reserve Army on the north.
The Eighth Division are attacking on the right of the Guards Division and the Fourteenth on the left. The Division is attacking with the 2nd Guards Brigade on the right and the 1st Guards Brigade on the left. The forming-up areas are shown on the map issued to the C.O.’s. Tanks will be employed to co-operate with the attack. Information regarding their employment is forwarded separately.
2. The 3rd Guards Brigade will be in Divisional Reserve, and will be formed up on the night of the 14/15th Sept. in and east of Trônes Wood as follows:
4th Batt. Grenadier Guards, east of wood between railway and Montauban—Guillemont road.
2nd Batt. Scots Guards, north of railway in S.24.C.
1st Batt. Grenadier Guards, about the trench