At 7.30 a.m. our own protective barrage fell beyond the crater area, this being answered three minutes later by a poor counter barrage directed chiefly on Gunner Siding. At 7.35 a.m. Companies had reached their objectives on the far lip of the craters, and telephone communication was established between them and Battalion Headquarters. At 7.43 a.m. consolidation was immediately proceeded with. Up to this time casualties were practically nil. Patrols were sent out to deal with Trench Mortar emplacements, and one was reported destroyed by mobile charge by the Left Company. Our own barrage, which was very heavy, seems to have dropped some shells short, inflicting casualties, two men being killed and 8 wounded in the Left Company, and approximately the same number in the Right Company.

Enemy retaliation dwindled down to very slight proportions between 8.30 and 10.30 a.m. He did not appear to know on what points to fire. At 8.34 a.m. a message was received from the snipers that a party of nearly forty of the enemy were seen at the far end of Duck Bill extension. These were fired on and soon disappeared. Shortly afterwards news was received from the Australian Tunnellers to the effect that there were no mines in dugouts, and that all shelters were badly smashed, a pill-box in Red Dragon Crater alone being untouched. Parties of the enemy in small numbers were seen running to the rear, and were dealt with by Lewis Gunners and Snipers, those escaping getting right into our barrage. At 9.20 a.m. consolidation was reported to be making good progress, while communication trenches were being rapidly dug by Pioneers, from Wolfe Road to Berkeley Street.

At 9.40 a.m. an S.O.S. rocket was sent up from the area of the left Battalion. Enemy Artillery was not firing at all at the time. Five minutes later the S.O.S. was cancelled.

Shortly afterwards the enemy fired on the crater area for the first time, on Warlinghem. Owing to our own Artillery fire some patrols had difficulty in reaching Trench Mortar emplacements, and these were now sent out again. The Right Company reported reaching an emplacement, but found the Mortar gone, though plenty of very heavy ammunition, and a range finder were lying near. The Left Company reported the destruction of another emplacement.

Between 11 and 11.15 a.m. enemy Artillery became much more active, blue cross shells falling on Givenchy, and the gas drifting over our area. This had cleared by 11.45 a.m. From this time onwards, much heavier enemy barrages were put down on the crater area. Tea and sandwiches were got up to the front line troops about 12.30 p.m., and about an hour later, a hot meat meal. Considerable difficulty was experienced in getting rations over the broken ground to the crater area, and the work done by the Transport and Quarter-Master’s Department was commendable. Perhaps a smile may be permitted here. This devoted personnel, its duty well and truly done, assembled for departure from the inhospitable region of the craters, which the Hun was now freely shelling. One member of the party was missing, and he the Company Quarter-Master Sergeant. Impatience grew as the minutes passed, and when well nigh insupportable, he appeared, to meet the indignant queries of his comrades, he silenced criticism with the explanation “Well, I couldn’t find t’ dixie lid”!

Our casualties during these operations amounted to 30, viz.: 7 killed and 23 wounded. On the 25th and 26th August the new line was organized. Difficulty was experienced by our Patrols in getting into touch with the enemy, and it was not until the second day that his posts were found. Our Snipers did excellent work, getting three confirmed hits, and continually harassing the enemy in his broken communication trenches. On the 27th we were relieved by the 5th King’s Liverpool Regt. without incident, and went into billets at Drovbin Camp, arriving shortly after 9 p.m.

Aug.–Sept., 1918

News of a German retirement on the front of the 15th Division, reached Battalion Headquarters astride La Bassée Canal, at 10 a.m. on the 2nd October. In consequence of this information, daylight patrols were sent out by “A” and “B” Companies, these Companies holding the right half of the Brigade Outpost Line. The advanced Platoons of “B” Company, under Lieut. Peers, were, on this morning, occupying Canteleux Trench, from its junction with Canteleux Alley S., to Towpath Alley, with forward posts in shell holes. “A” Company, to the south of the Canal, had taken over, the previous evening, the dispositions of three Companies of the 4th Loyals, who had captured the Distillery, viz., a line of posts 200 yards East of the Distillery Line, with supporting and counter-attack platoons in rear. The two counter-attack platoons were attached from “D” Company.

October, 1918

Progress was first made by “B” Company, one of whose patrols had entered La Bassée Line before mid-day. By 1.30 p.m. the western outskirts of La Bassée were reached, and at 2 p.m. patrols were pushing North up the front and support trenches of La Bassée line, to gain touch with the 5th Lancashire Fusiliers who were advancing towards La Bassée from the direction of Canteleux and Violaines. Opposite their front, however, the enemy seemed to hold his line normally, until mid-day, and even later.