As in the battle of Cambrai the initiation of the attack was to depend on the tanks, no artillery registration or bombardment being permitted prior to the assault. In all, some 82 brigades of field artillery, 26 brigades of heavy artillery, and 13 batteries of heavy guns and howitzers were to be employed. The following is a summary of the artillery instructions:

(i) No artillery bombardment.

(ii) The initial attack to be opened by a barrage at zero.

(iii) The majority of the heavy guns and howitzers to concentrate on counter-battery work.

(iv) The field-artillery brigades to be prepared to move forward and offer the closest support to the attacking infantry.

(v) Special noise barrages to cover the approach of the tanks.

The first object of the Cavalry Corps was to secure the old Amiens defence line and hold it until relieved by infantry units. The second, to push forward on the line Roye—Chaulnes. For this purpose the 3rd Cavalry Division with one battalion of Whippets was placed under the command of the Canadian Corps, and one cavalry brigade, supported by one company of Whippets, under that of the Australian Corps.

On July 30, the date on which preparations were begun, the Tank Corps was distributed as follows:

1st Tank Brigade
H.Q. Estruvalle		 7th BattalionMerlimont.
11th „Merlimont.
12th „Merlimont.
2nd Tank Brigade
H.Q. Bois D’Ohlain		10th „Bouvigny.
14th „Mont St. Eloi.
15th „Simencourt.
3rd Tank Brigade
H.Q. Wavrans		 3rd „Toutencourt.
 6th „Merlimont.
4th Tank Brigade
H.Q. Couturelle		 1st „Coullemont.
 4th „La Cauchie.
 5th „Bailleulval.
5th Tank Brigade
H.Q. Vaux		 2nd „Querrieu wood.
 8th „Blangy (east of Amiens).
13th „St. Gratien (near to).
 9th „Cavillon.

In order to facilitate co-operation and staff work it was decided to break up temporarily the 2nd Tank Brigade and to allot the 10th Battalion to the IIIrd Corps and the 14th and 15th Battalions to the 4th and 5th Tank Brigades respectively. Besides these units five Supply and Gun Carrier Companies were allotted for the transport of tank and infantry supplies.

Plate VII

GUN-CARRIER.