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[Page 7]
(4).
1st. Move consisted of two sections per battery of these Brigades not normally used for the defence of the line.
2nd. Move consisted of remaining guns of the Brigade mentioned above and two sections of the Brigades covering the line.
3rd. Move (Y/Z Night) consisted of the remaining sections of the Brigades normally holding the line. These sections moved at last possible moment, carrying out harassing fire in their old positions as long as possible.
The ordinary harassing fire up to ZERO hour, in addition to that done by those sections which moved under Move 3, was also carried out by those batteries in the battle positions which were sited furthest back, and in closest proximity to old positions lately vacated.
IV. ATTACK. (8th. August, 1918).
1. At ZERO, 4.0 a.m., the Artillery and Machine Gun barrage came down punctually and accurately, and both attacking Brigades got off well at 4.24 a.m.
The enemy barrage came down at about 10 minutes after ZERO on the old front line but was very weak and, as the attack progressed, ceased altogether.
2. At about 4.0 a.m. a dense fog had developed which (although it shielded our troops from observation) with the smoke and dust, made the keeping of direction an extremely difficult task.
3. The 11th Inf. Brigade attacked in line of sections in file, and this formation proved very successful in the fog, as direction was better maintained - owing to the small groups of our troops being more easily handled and (with the tanks) better able to deal with any centres of resistance.
4. The 9th. Inf. Brigade attack quickly developed into a similar formation, small parties working forward together on their own initiative.
5. The whole plan operated successfully, the attack being driven home with great energy. It was expected that in the initial stages the capture of ACCROCHE Wood would prove a difficult task, but the surprise to the enemy was so complete, and the fog so dense, that our troops were upon the garrison before much resistance could be offered. The garrison was a strong one, but was driven into dugouts by our barrage and, in most cases, came out only to surrender. At 5.16 a.m. the 9th. Inf. Brigade were beyond ACCROCHE Wood, which had yielded a large number of prisoners. The 11th. Inf. Brigade in the meantime had been entirely successful also, the enemy surrendering freely. Along the whole of the Divisional front hard fighting took place in a number of enemy strong points, and battery positions, which were protected by machine gun nests, but the vigour of the attack quickly overcame this resistance and the garrison were either killed or captured.
6. Owing to the density of the fog, the rate of the advance was slower than had been expected and the infantry were unable to keep right up to the barrage. The dangers resulting from this were nullified, however, by the good work of the tanks, which were of the greatest possible assistance in attacking strong points and the small woods, and enabling them to be mopped up.
P.T.O.