Noeux was not shelled during our stay, so we had a peaceful time, though one officer was somewhat troubled on waking the first morning to find attached to his house the following notice:  “This cross roads is registered. No parties to halt here.”  We did not stay long, however, for on the 30th July we were suddenly ordered to move to Fouquieres to prepare for a coming raid, and marched there during the afternoon, Battalion Headquarters to the Chateau, Companies to the village.  For some reason best known to himself the billeting officer had billeted all officers with the wrong companies, but this was soon rectified, and we were very comfortable.

Our coming raid was to be carried out against the enemy’s trenches West of Hulluch on a frontage of 300 yards.  The sector chosen was bounded on the North by Hendon and on the South by Hicks Alley, while Herring Alley was in the centre.  There were three German lines, and on the left a small extra line between the first and second, which we named Hinckley Trench.  The scheme was for two Companies to take and hold the German third line, one Company to mop up behind them, and the fourth Company to follow with some Engineers to demolish dug-outs.  One of the forward Companies would have to send a special party to deal with the “Goose” trench mortar.  All wire cutting would be done by the Artillery, who were allowed a fortnight for it, so that they might not excite the enemy too much by heavy shooting.  During this time we were to detail an officer to stay in the line, watch the shooting, and patrol the gaps at night.  We would also practise the attack over a flagged course.

The flagged course was set out very elaborately at Hesdigneul, and not only was each trench shown, but small notice boards denoted the position of every supposed machine gun, trench mortar, or deep dug-out.  Practices took place first by day and finally by night, for the raid was to be a night attack, and various lamp signals were arranged to assist the withdrawal.  The position of Hulluch village was indicated on the practice ground by a large notice board—­Hulluch—­which probably gave any spies there might be in Hesdigneul a very fair idea of what was intended.

Meanwhile, we received various reinforcements.  Lieut.  G.E.  Russell returned, 2nd Lieut.  W.M.  Cole came from the Artists’ Rifles, 2nd Lieuts.  R.W.  Edge, T.R.L.  Gibson, R.B.  Rawson, C.P.  Shilton, R.W.  Sanders, L.W.  Mandy, and J.S.  Plumer came to us for the first time from England.  At the same time a large party of men, arriving at Monchy Breton, had enabled us to reconstitute “C” Company, so that we now had four Companies of three platoons each, and enough officers for two Battalions.  Lieut.  Pearson went to Hospital and thence to England, and Capt.  Wollaston acted Adjutant.  The Company Commanders were unchanged.