Item 01: Sir Charles Rosenthal diary, 25 September 1914-31 December 1918 - Page 355
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[Page 355]
Friday 12th October
At 5.25 AM this morning our attack commenced. All battalions were formed up on their tape lines by 3 AM. The approach march was difficult, the conditions of the ground only permitting movement at the rate of ¾ mile per hour. The approach march was further interfered with by two Battalions of 4th Aus. Division who used the same route Eastward from Zonnebeke.
During the approach march enemy shelling caused a number of casualties. Enemy barrage came down on our front line about five minutes before zero and many casualties resulted, the 36th Battalion losing 50 men before crossing our taped line. The 34th Battalion detailed for 1st objective experienced trouble from Block houses in Augustus Wood and later from Block houses at D.11.d. 25-40. The 10th Brigade after leaving "jumping off" tape did not keep touch along inter Brigade boundary but bore away to the left, later gaining touch in vicinity of Red Line. This movement on part of 10th Brigade left a considerable amount of country not mopped up, and the 30th Battalion in consequence dealt with this area, from which a good deal of machine gun fire was being directed.
The Red Line was taken and occupied by 34th Battalion and upon the Red Protector Barrage lifting, the 35th Battalion promptly followed the Barrage. Considerable trouble was experienced on Right Flank from Blockhouses in vicinity of Tiber Copse, and heavy machine gun fire was encountered on the Left from vicinity of Deck Wood and Crest Farm. As a consequence the reorganised 34th Battalion assisted the 35th in cleaning up Tiber Copse on the Right and the 36th Battalion assisted the 35th on the Left.
The latter Battalion during the advance from the Red & Blue Line suffered heavy casualties. Its Left Flank Company was wiped out as a unit, also its Reserve Company which had been detailed to assist 10th Brigade if necessary in mopping up of Passchendaele. Casualties were caused mainly by machine gun fire.
On reaching the Blue Line the position was therefore as follows:- On the Left the 36th Battalion who had suffered heavy casualties, in the centre the 35th Battalion who had suffered most, and on the Right the 34th Battalion.
My reports received during the Battle were emphatic that my troops had captured the Blue Line, but that nothing