The final preparations were made on the night of the 7th/8th, when two parties went out to cut wire, 2nd Lieut.  Banwell and 2nd Lieut.  C.S.  Allen.  The first party found some thick wire, placed their ammonal tubes and successfully blew several gaps.  The others, under 2nd Lieut.  Allen, found no uncut wire, so brought their tubes back.  Everything was ready by dawn on the 8th, and Zero was ordered for 8-30 p.m. the same day.

For several days the Monmouthshires had been at work deepening “Assign” trench, and had done much, but it was still shallow, and there is no doubt that as “B” and “C” Companies came up it between 5.0 and 6.0 p.m., they were seen from the top of “Hill 65.”  For as “B” Company passed the group of cottages South of Riaumont Hill, the Boche opened a heavy fire on the trench and dropped a shell right amongst the Company Headquarters.  Capt.  Wynne was untouched, but his Serjeant-Major, Gore, and his runner, Ghent, both first-class soldiers, were killed by his side.  Assembly was complete by 6.0 p.m. and “B,” “C,” with “D” Co. in close support, waited for Zero in some short lengths of trench, dug amongst the houses at the East end of “Assign” trench.  “A” Co., who were to carry ammunition and stores for the attackers, formed up near Battalion Headquarters, in the group of houses half way up the trench.  Capt.  Wynne, though worn out with fever, and hardly able to stand, still stuck to his Company.

[Illustration:  Sketch map to illustrate fighting at Lens -may, June 1917.-]

At 8.30 p.m. the barrage opened, and the attack started.  Almost the first shell exploded some ammunition dump on the far side of the slag heap, and the whole battle was lit up by the gigantic fire which followed.  Against the red glow the black figures of “C” Company could be seen swarming up the slag-heap, clearing the two trenches, “Boot” and “Brick,” on its summit, and sweeping on to clean out the dug-outs beyond.  There were many Germans on and around the heap, and in a short time between 80 and 100 were killed, nearly all with the bayonet.  Serjeant Needham stormed a trench mortar emplacement, himself accounting for most of the crew.  Serjeant Roberts, formerly of the Transport, and with his Company for the first time, was much annoyed to find a bayonet through his arm, but did not stop until he had dealt with its owner and any of his friends he could find.  Pte.  Tookey and many others showed splendid dash, bombing dug-outs, bayonetting stray Huns, and occasionally taking a prisoner or two.  But the central figure of the fight was 2nd Lieut.  Banwell.  Armed with a rifle and bayonet he simply ran amock and slaughtered some eight of the enemy by himself, while their leader he ran to the edge of the slag-heap and kicked over the side into the lake, where he broke his neck and was drowned.  Altogether this Company took eight prisoners and destroyed three machine guns and two trench mortars.