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[Page 30]
3.10.17
4 am. Patrols brought in another English Officer and One Private. These had been out in shell holes for 8 days. The Officer was in a critical condition.
10 pm. Enemy shelled all along the front and routes throughout the night. Our snipers gained the ascendency.
12 pm. The approach march of the 10th and 11th Bdes was going on satisfactorily. Enemy bombarded the Div. front very heavily. Our patrols remained out till Zero minus 30 minutes protecting the jumping off tape line. 3 mortars of the 9th A.L.T.M. Bty were placed at the disposal of the G.O.C. 11th A.I. Bde to bombard ZONNEBEKE Station from Zero to Zero plus 3 minutes and to deal with 3 enemy M.G's located inside our barrage line. 9th A.I.Bde withdrew as the 10th and 11th Inf. Bde assembled.
3.30 am. Enemy put down a heavy barrage on our front line this being due to the fact that he had intended to attack.
6 am. Zero hour. The attack commenced with a barrage of extreme intensity, regularity, timing and depth. Mortars of the 9th A.L.T.M. Bty bombarded from Zero to Zero plus 3 minutes with rapid fire. G.O.C. 199th Inf. Bde and his Bn Commanderswho were to take over the new line arrived at 9th A.I.Bde H.Q. at 12 noon and were given all available information. 9th A.I.Bde were in reserve in Shell holes east of FREZENBURG Ridge. The attack was entirely successful along the whole Army front. Large numbers of the enemy were killed and many prisoners taken.
5/10.17
2 pm. Bde relieved by the 199th Inf, Bde. and the Bde moved back to VLAMERTINGHE, and embussed for No. 2 Area WINNEZEELE. Bde received orders to be ready to take part in an attack on the 8th inst. or a few days later.
6.10.17
Conference of Staffs at Div. H.Q. re the forthcoming operations. outlined included the capture of PASSCHENDAELE and PASSCHENDAELE RIDGE. The proposed objectives were marked subject to probable alterations.
7.10.17
Conference held at DIV. H.Q. It was now decided that the 3rd Australian Div and the N.Z. Div. were to be ready to exploit the succes of the 66th and 49th Divs.attack on the 9th Inst. Cavalry and Anzac Mounted Troops to be held in reserve. 9th A.I. Bde ordered to BERTHEN area to-morrow and to be ready to entrain on 10th inst.
8.10.17
9.30 am. Conference at Div. H.Q. Staffs, Brigadiers and Bde Majors present. Schemes A. and B. to be now alternative and to depend on the success of the operations of the 49th and 66th Divs.