War Diary 2nd/3rd May

Trenches 2.5.17: The 36^th Brigade were to attack Rifle Trench [NE of Monchy-le-Preux] during the night of the 1^st&2^nd [May 1917] with the cooperation of the 7^th East Surrey Regt who had relieved ½ of the battalion of 6^th Buffs in Bayonet Trench and the part of Rifle trench previously captured. The operation was unsuccessful. The trenches at this time were very bad and for the most part only consolidated shell holes. No communication trenches existed.

Preparations were being made for the general attack to be delivered on the 3^rd of May.

Trenches 3.5.17: The Battn with the 6^th Buffs on the right and 11^th Middlesex on the left attacked the German lines at 3.45am. The objectives were two in number, the brown line (Gun Trench) and the yellow line (Cartridge trench). Maps etc attached.

The attack failed and casualties to the battalion were heavy. Killed . Officers 3 Other Ranks 26. Wounded 3 Officers and 117 Other Ranks. Missing – Officers 5 Other Ranks 89. In addition six others were gassed.

No messages came through to Battn HQ in Monchy Wood until the afternoon and that was from Lt Ayres to say that they were back in their own frontline with two officers and about 40 men. The attack was delivered during the darkest part of the night and the forming up was very difficult owing to the absence of trenches and the difficulty of getting direction. Once the attack started touch seems to have been lost and the fighting was carried out by isolated bodies of men. Their objective was reached but large bodies of the enemy were passed over in the darkness and those that did get back had to fight their way back.

The battalion on our left captured Scabbard Trench and their right was protected by a strong point of men from this battalion who had dug in on the right of Harness Lane near Devils Trench.