Company’s sunken lane, where they formed up for the attack.  A few of “A” Company under 2nd Lieut.  Whetton crossed the lane and reached the Staffordshires’ front line.  There was no fixed time for the assault, but the hill was to be shelled by our Artillery until 2.30 p.m.  This shelling ceased as our Companies reached the lane, nearly a mile from the objective, and Colonel Evans tried in vain to have it renewed.

Meanwhile the enemy had been assembling out of sight behind Mannequin Ridge, and now suddenly attacked the Staffordshires heavily, driving them from their positions on the crest.  At the same time the valley was swept from end to end by bursts of machine gun fire, and it was obvious that an advance across the open could only be made with very heavy loss.  Colonel Griffiths wished to stop the attack at least until Mannequin Ridge was retaken, but, before anything could be done, the enemy opened a heavy artillery barrage on the lane, and the Colonel was badly wounded.  Some of “A” Company had pushed forward a little, and Captain Petch and 2nd Lieut.  Dennis managed to find some cover for No. 4 Platoon about 200 yards East of the Lane.  It was now about 3-0 p.m. and Colonel Evans, probably intending to alter his plans, sent for the Company Commanders.  As they arrived a shell fell on the party, killing the Colonel, Lieut.  Corah and 2nd Lieut.  Christy, wounding Captain Petch.  A few minutes later 2nd Lieut.  Mace was hit in the leg with a bullet, and both he and Captain Petch were sent down.  “D” Company was officerless, “A” had three isolated groups, two forward and unapproachable, the third under 2nd Lieut.  Edwardes in the Sunken Lane.  There were no orders and no one knew what to do, so C.S.M.  Cooper collected “D” and 2nd Lieut.  Edwardes and C.S.M.  Smith collected all they could find of “A,” and both prolonged “C” Company’s line to the left.  The lane here was less sunken than on the right, and the cover was very poor, affording little protection against the enemy’s shells, which came from front and flank.

We were now very short of officers.  The Adjutant, Captain J.D.  Hills, was in command, with Lieut.  Ashdowne as Adjutant; 2nd Lieut.  Argyle was acting Liaison Officer with the Staffordshires, so there was no one else except the M.O. at Headquarters.  Captain Jack, it is true, was a host in himself, for, when not tying up the wounded, he was always ready with some merry remark to cheer us up; we needed it, for our railway line was as heavily shelled as the sunken lane.  In addition to the killed and wounded the Companies had also lost two new subaltern officers who had joined the previous day and gone away slightly gassed, while 2nd Lieut.  Griffiths, who had gone forward with the reconnoitering parties, had not been seen since.  Captain Banwell was therefore alone with “C” Company.  Lieut.  Steel was at once sent to command “D,” and, on arrival at the sunken lane, at once received a shell splinter in the leg; fortunately, however, this was