11am to 7pm - 19th July 1916

11am to 6 pm. Artillery bombardment on Enemy’s frontline and support trenches.

5.30pm. The attacking companies, D Company - Capt T.H. Bethell - Right Company & C Company Capt G.B. Donaldson – Left company filed out through two sally ports newly constructed and only broken through in the last half hour, and took audition to advance in a low ditch which runs in front of our parapet. These Companies got out without being seen.

5.50pm. The attacking Companies in four waves, 50 yards apart with Company bombers behind first wave, Lewis Gunners behind second, Battalion bombers behind third and a section of the 182^nd Machine Gun Company behind fourth, started to move slowly towards the enemy’s trenches and at the same time B Company, the Support Company, moved out and formed up ready to advance. Capt. R.T. Hills and 1 Platoon of A Coy were ordered to move down from Reserve Line and occupy the Front Line.

6pm. Ask the artillery lifted the leading Companies rushed the German first line from about 50 yards and passed over to the second line where they encountered strong opposition. From information obtained from the few who got back when the withdrawal was ordered it appears that the enemies wire and first line trench was completely destroyed but the entrance to very deep dugouts with steps leading down was seen and from these as also from the support trench men ran out holding up their hands to meet our men who ordered them by signs to proceed to our lines. The Battalion bombers proceeded to bomb up right and left but were gradually forced by superior numbers on both flanks to withdraw.

6.12pm. The leading Companies were held up for a few minutes in front of the Support Line and came on the heavy machine gun fire and what was left of them got through into the support trenches by 6.20pm where they were being shelled when the last message came through.

6.20pm. B Company, Capt. L.A. Edwards advanced and apparently got over without any casualties. Capt. L.A. Edwards was wounded at the enemy’s wire and his second in command 2^nd Lieut Sturrock shortly afterwards.

6.25pm. First carrying party with 16 bags of bombs followed by a 2^nd Party, half with bombs and half with S.A.A were ordered to move up.

6.31pm. A message by runner from 2/6^th on my left that the “7^th are across, our men wont face it. Send reinforcements”. The first part of the message was confirmed sometime later when a runner arrived having come right through the enemy’s Support Line with a message from Capt. G.B. Donaldson O.C. C Company which said (time 6.15 pm) “About 20 men hold enemy support line, it is being shelled”. This was following by a message from Major Welch who was in the forward Signalling Post in the front line saying that our bombers were being bombed out and that the enemy were closing in from each side and would cut off our men in the support line.

6.37pm. I ordered the Company of D.C.L.i Pioneers to proceed to our front line and if possible to start digging a communication trench across No Mans Land at the selected spot. This was found to be impossible owing to heavy shell fire. At the same time the remainder of A Company were moved up to our front line, Snipers and remaining carrying party moved into reserve line.