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creeping barrage to the SOMME at R.1.b. and R.2.a. and thus cut off all the enemy within the band of the river.
3. Zero Hour was fixed for 8.15 p.m. but by arrangement between the artillery and infantry and after reference to Divisional Headquarters this was altered to 8.30 p.m.
4. The Operation was covered also by 16 guns of the 11th. M.G.Coy. and 8 guns of the 23rd. M.G. Coy., the latter being specially sent up.
5. The attack was well carried out by 41st. Battalion and was entirely successful, although the whole of the objective was only captured after a very hard fight in which many enemy were killed.
6. After the capture of the objective a party of about 2 officers and 80 O.Rs. surrendered from CATEAUX WOOD, in which there was some fighting, the total number of prisoners captured in the Operation being approx. 2 officers and 200 O.Rs.
7. On the same night (11th/12th August) the 10th. Inf. Brigade relieved the 9th. Inf. Brigade and the inter-brigade boundary was altered to extend the 11th. Inf. Brigade front further Southwards. On the morning of the 12th. August, the 10th. Inf. Brigade was in line Right with 38th. Battalion Right, 40th. Battalion Centre, and 37th. Battalion Left - the 39th. Battalion being in Support; and the 11th. Inf. Brigade was in line Left with 42nd. Battalion Right, 41st. Battalion Left, 44th. Battalion Support Right, and 43rd. Battalion Support Left. (See Map "H").
VIII. OPERATIONS DURING DAY, 12th. August, 1918.
1. Commencing at daylight on 12th. August, the 43rd. Battalion mopped up the area bounded by the SOMME on the West and North, the line occupied by the 41st. Battalion on the east and our old front line on the South. In cleaning up this area about 40 more prisoners were captured.
2. In the early hours of the morning and continued throughout the day, patrols from the 10th Inf. Brigade and the right of the 11th. Inf. Brigade pushed out to and beyond PROYART.
During the day, arrangements were made for the relief of the Division by the 17th Division, which was carried out during the night without hitch, command passing to G.O.C. 17th Division at 4.30 a.m. on 13th. August. The Brigades withdrew as follows :-
9th. Inf. Bde. ACCROCHE VALLEY
10th. -do- MORCOURT VALEY
11th. -do- HAMELET
The Divisional Artillery withdrew to HAMELET on relief but, on morning of the 13th. August, orders were received for them to move to the vicinity of ROSIERES forthwith to assist an intended operation of the Fifth Australian Division.
[signed] J.Gellibrand
Major-General,
Commanding Third Australian Division
4th September 1918.