At 5-0 a.m., Sunday, the 29th of September, the barrage started.  There was the usual thick morning mist, and even at 7-0 a.m. we were unable to see more than a few yards in any direction.  Even gun flashes could not be seen, and the only intimation we had of the progress of the fight, was the continuous “chug-chug-chug,” of the tanks, moving along the valley North of us, completely out of sight.  As we were not due to move until 9-0 a.m. we spent the time having breakfasts and reorganizing the remains of “B” Company.  Lieut.  Hawley, with the aid of the recently returned C.S.M.  J.B.  Weir, D.C.M., formed one large platoon with as many Lewis Guns as possible.  Between 7-0 and 8-0 a.m. the mist lifted once for a few seconds only, and, looking Northwards we could see the top of the next ridge.  Along the skyline as far as the eye could see from West to East stretched a long column of horses, guns and wagons—­moving forward.  Below them, in the shadow, moved a long procession of Tanks.  Then the mist closed down and we saw no more.

As soon as breakfasts were finished, picked N.C.O.’s and men were sent forward to get in touch with the rest of the Brigade and reconnoitre roads forward to the Canal.  At 7-45 a.m. came a message from Brigade Headquarters, to say that, as the mist was worse further East, we had better start moving at once.  Parade was accordingly ordered for 8-30 a.m., instead of 9-0 a.m., and we tried to form up in a field near the quarry.  The mist was so thick one could not see from one end of a Company to the other, and it was nearly nine o’clock before Capt.  Jack and his orderlies with their medical box appeared in the field, and we were ready to move off.  Even so, we had to leave the mess staff behind, but the Padre promised to bring them along.

At 9-0 a.m. we moved off in single file, Col.  Griffiths leading, and the Companies following in the order “A,” “C,” “D,” Battalion Headquarters, and “B.”  It was terribly difficult to keep touch, as, with many oaths, we stumbled over ditches and holes until we reached the lane from le Verguier to Grand Priel.  Here we picked up the Headquarter horses, and also were much cheered by some wounded soldiers, who told us the Boche was running away for all he was worth.  Unfortunately our column was cut in half by some artillery coming down the line, who passed between “D” Company and Headquarters.  Alongside us, moving on the same track, were the other Sherwood Foresters, also bound for the “Green Line”; their “all up” was passed to the head of our column, and the Colonel, thinking we were intact, moved on.  At Ascension Farm, the Adjutant was sent in to report to Brigade Headquarters and the Colonel struck off into the mist, marching entirely by compass bearing.  Periodically he and Captain Petch stopped to check their direction and then moved slowly on again; there was some barbed wire and the horses were sent back.  Eventually, after crossing the old front line and going half way down the next