Shortly after zero hour, "Thatch Barn" dump was blown up by the enemy, causing many casualties to the carrying party. This considerably disorganised the party and added greatly to their work. The conditions caused by the shelling and the muddy nature of the ground made it impossible to carry full loads. It was also found that the "Yukon Pack," while enabling men to carry heavy loads, was inclined to make them top-heavy, and on the uneven and slippery ground they easily lost their balance and fell. This either necessitated extra men without packs assisting them to their feet again, or else they had to take the packs off in order to get up, and then reload. This caused considerable delay. The extra weight also made the men's feet sink deep in the mud, rendering marching extremely difficult and exhausting. Most of the party was made up of a draft without any previous training with the "Yukon Pack."
Three out of the four Company Officers and a Company-Sergt.-Major became casualties, the Company being reduced to 26 other ranks. Lieut. Mackay, who was in command, shewed great pluck and determination in the way he organised the parties and got the materials forward. He was wounded himself in the leg, but insisted on going up to the forward dump to see the work properly handed over before going to the dressing station to have his wounds attended to. In addition to the actual pain involved, his wound was unfortunately saturated with dirt, the result being that this fine young officer died a few days later from the effects. Besides being a good officer, he was a splendid young fellow. He had just left one of the great public schools and had taken a scholarship at Oxford, which was waiting for him on his return.
About 10 a.m. the remaining three companies of the Battalion advanced and occupied the German front system of trenches. At 1 p.m. the Headquarters moved forward to the German reserve lines. The enemy shelling was severe, but they were lucky enough to find an old German concrete machine gun post for a new Headquarters. One platoon went forward about 2 o'clock to construct a strong point under an R.E. officer. When they got there, however, they found they were drawing so much shell fire that the R.E. officer decided not to proceed with the work. About 5 a.m. next morning the Battalion moved forward to support, relieving the Seaforth Highlanders, who replaced the Black Watch in the front line, the latter taking our place in the reserve. The position of the Battalion now was two Companies in the Trench immediately behind North Station Buildings, and one Company in the strong points.
We were suffering considerably from the mud, many of the rifles were almost choked with it, and even ammunition could not be put into the magazine without a portion of the mud on the men's hands going in along with it. The Commanding Officer, on going round in the morning, insisted on getting the arms cleaned as far as possible, a precaution which proved itself of considerable advantage later on, for the enemy counter-attacked about 3 p.m. Captain Symon got his Company out in front of the trench ready to counter-attack. This movement was conformed to by the Company on the left. As soon as he saw that the enemy had broken through our front line Captain Symon gave his orders to charge with fixed bayonets. The enemy were driven back, and we even gained a little ground.
The enemy put down a fairly heavy barrage on our front trench and immediately behind it. There was also a considerable amount of machine gun and rifle fire, as well as some sniping from a distance. We took four prisoners, and killed many of the enemy who were seen retiring on the hill opposite. As our right flank was now in the air no further advance, on our part, could be made, and we had to form a flank defence along the Ypres-Roulers railway. The two Companies remained in the front line. That night we were relieved in support by the 8/10th Gordons and took over the remainder of the front line, which we held for the following two days, until relieved on the night of the 3rd/4th by two Companies of the Munster Fusiliers.
During the attack we had found little use for the Mills bomb, partly because there were few trenches to attack, and partly because the men had now got more confidence in their rifles. The Rifle Grenadiers were carrying rifle grenades in sand bags in their hands. Many of these got lost, so that it was decided that it would be better to carry fewer grenades in future and that these should be worn in the equipment, the waistcoat pattern being considered the best for the purpose. In the counter-attack the men fired their rifles from the hip, which possibly had a good moral effect, although cold steel was the deciding factor. The casualties during the operations from the 31st July to 3rd August were 7 officers killed, and 285 other ranks.
On the 4th August the Battalion moved to Winnezwele by bus. Here we were inspected by the G.O.C. 15th Division. We were drawn up in three sections, the first of officers and other ranks who took part in the operations, the second of those who were with details, and the third of drafts. The G.O.C. expressed his appreciation of the excellent work performed by the Battalion in the recent operations under very exceptional circumstances. Here on the 14th we held regimental sports. "A" Company was successful in winning the tug-of-war and the "six-a-side football" match. The sergeants beat the officers in the tug-of-war. The officers, however, were successful in winning the tug-of-war against all comers from the Brigade. The Company championship in points was as follows:—"B" Company, 50; "A" Company, 26; "C" Company, 24; and "D" Company, 20. The best all round athlete was C.S.M. Keith, "B" Company. At the close of the sports, the prizes were presented by Brigadier-General Marshall. The Divisional Band played at intervals during the forenoon, and the massed pipes of the Brigade played at the close of the sports. Everything went off without a hitch, and great credit is due to Lieut. Gibb and his Committee for the way they arranged and carried out the programme.
On the 20th we once more returned to the line in order to continue the offensive, the disposition of the Brigade being, 8th Seaforths on the right, 7th Camerons on the left, and the 8/10th Gordons in support. The route taken by the Headquarters was via Reigersberg Chateau and No. 4 track. The Battalion, less four platoons, proceeded via the White Chateau. The Headquarters were in Pommern Redoubt. The zero hour was 4.45 a.m., when the attack was launched and carried on for about 200 yards west of Hill 35. Here the Battalion came under very heavy machine gun and rifle fire from Gallipoli Farm and Iberin Farm, where they were held up. The Battalions on the right and left also being held up, we consolidated the position which we had gained, with the assistance of the 8/10th Gordons, while the 9th Pioneer Gordons constructed a strong point immediately in our rear. We held this position till the night of the 22nd/23rd, when we were relieved by the 9th Black Watch, and proceeded to the support position in Rupprecht Farm, with the Battalion Headquarters at Verlorenhock. The next day we were relieved by the 8/10th Gordons and proceeded to Eerie Camp. Our casualties were, 4 officers killed, 5 officers wounded, 3 other ranks killed, and 132 wounded. The time was now employed in re-constructing the Battalion and carrying out preliminary training. The Division then received orders to move south.
General Sir H. P. Gough, K.C.B., Officer Commanding the 5th Army, stated in a farewell message to the 15th Division that "he parted with them with great regret. The reputation of the Division has been earned on many battlefields, and has never stood higher than now. He wishes it all good fortune and many further successes in the future. Will ye no come back again?"
While the Battalion was on the march for the Wateau Area to entrain, it was inspected by the G.O.C. of the 5th Army, who expressed to the Commanding Officer his very high appreciation of the work of the Battalion, and warmly congratulated him on this account, and on the successful raids they had carried out. It was with no feeling of regret that we marched south leaving the Salient behind us, where it was not only a case of fighting the enemy, but also of fighting an almost worse enemy in the elements. It is quite impossible to describe the conditions of that half-inundated land and the sea of mud which was stirred up by the heavy shelling on the ground over which we had to attack.