Lives of the First World War

30th June 1916

Report on operations. 1. The battalion assembled at 1.30 p.m on the morning of the 30th June in readiness for the assault with all four platoons of each coy. in the front line. 2. The preliminary bombardment on the morning of the attack opened at 2:50 a m and at 3.5 the leading wave of the battalion scaled the parapet, the remainder following at 50 yds. Interval. At the same time the flank attack under Lts. Whitley and Ellis gained a footing in the enemy trench. The passage across NO MAN’S LAND was accomplished with few casualties in except in the left Companies which came under very heavy machine gun fire. The two right companies succeeded in reaching their objective but the two left companies only succeeded in penetrating the enemy’s wire in one or two places. Just at this moment a smoke cloud which was originally designed to mask our advance drifted right across the front and made it impossible to see more than a few yards ahead. This resulted in all direction being lost and the attack devolving into small bodies of men not knowing which way to go. Some groups succeeded in entering the support line engaging the enemy with bombs and bayonet and organizing the initial stages of a defence. Other parties swung off to the right and entered the trench where the flank party was operating, causing a great deal of congestion. On the left the smoke and darkness made the job of penetrating the enemy wire so difficult that few if any succeeded in reaching the enemy trench. Some parties of the right company succeeded in reaching the enemy support line when they were subjected to an intense bombardment with H.E and whizz bangs. Capt. Hughes who was wounded, seeing that his Coy. was in danger of being cut off gave the order for the evacuation of the enemy trenches and the remainder of the attacking force returned to our trenches. The enemy who was evidently thoroughly prepared now concentrated his energies on the front line and for the space of about 21/2 hours our front and support lines were subjected to an intense bombardment with heavy and light shells causing a large number of casualties. Ultimately the shelling cease and to all intents and purposes the operations closed, the battn. being relieved by the 14th Hants at about 1.30 p.m. and taking over their original billets at VIELLE CHAPELLE. Principal causes of failure. a) The unfortunate incident of the smoke cloud. b) The preparedness of the enemy. c) The intensity of the enemy’s shell and machine gun fire. d) The failure of the Artillery to cut the enemy’s wire on the left. Casualties. Our casualties were unfortunately heavy and resulted in the loss of many valuable officers and men including Captn. C.M.Humble-Crofts Captn, & Adj. R.D.A’ Whittaker Lt Fitzherbert H.L. 2nd Lts. Dudley, Morgan, Oliver, Prior A.L. and Diggens killed and missing, and Captn. Hughes Captn. Makalua Lt.W.W.Fitzherbert. 2nd Lt. Herbert wounded. Amongst the wounded were C.S.M. Robinson, C.S.M. James C.S.M. Sears and C.S.M. Harffey the latter lost a foot during the bombardment. The enemy casualties are also considered to have been considerable, large numbers of dead being seen in the enemy trenches. H.J. COXHEAD.

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